(AP Photo)
Indian captain Rohit Sharma expressed immense joy and gratitude for the overwhelming reception from Mumbai’s crowd on Thursday night. The event marked a historic moment, etched forever in their memories.
Starting from their early morning arrival in New Delhi, culminating in a bus parade from Marine Drive to Wankhede Stadium, the Indian team was greeted warmly by the entire city of Mumbai lining the streets.
The atmosphere was electric, with chants and cheers praising players like Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah echoing throughout the streets.
The BCCI shared numerous videos and images capturing the unforgettable scenes at Wankhede Stadium. The board felicitated the Indian players for their remarkable T20 World Cup victory, India’s first ICC title in 11 years and the first T20 World Cup triumph in 17 years since the inaugural edition. Notably, Rohit Sharma made history by becoming the first Indian to win the T20 World Cup both as a player and captain.
In a video posted on BCCI’s social media platforms, Rohit Sharma attempted to articulate his emotions and encapsulate the significance of Thursday evening.
“We started off in the afternoon and this is in the evening. I cannot forget 2007 as it was my first World Cup. This is little more special because I was leading the team, it’s a very proud moment for me, this is going to be mad. You can make out the excitement and it shows how much it means not just to us but also to the entire nation it means a lot. So I am very happy that we could achieve something like this for them as well” Rohit said.
The scene captured Virat Kohli, Rahul Dravid, Rohit Sharma, and their teammates embracing the trophy, celebrating joyfully.
India’s victory marked their third T20 World Cup final and secured their second title. This triumph ended an 11-year drought for ICC titles.
Following the T20 World Cup win, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja retired from the format, aiming to pass the baton to younger players before the next T20 World Cup in 2026 in India. It also marked Rahul Dravid’s farewell as India’s head coach.
After missing out on World Cup victories as a player and captain, Dravid finally savored the taste of success as India’s coach.
“Thank you very much, Ro (Rohit), for making that call in November and asking me to continue. It’s been such a privilege and a pleasure to work with each and every one of you, but also with Ro. Thank you for your time. I know as captain and coach, there are a lot of times we have to chat. We have to agree; we have to disagree. It’s been brilliant to know each and every one of you” said Dravid as he thanked Rohit Sharma for asking him to continue after India’s ODI World Cup final loss in November 2023.
