It's been almost five days since that fateful day at Kensington Oval in Barbados when the Rohit Sharma-led Indian cricket team defeated South Africa in the final to lift the 2024 T20 World Cup, ending a 13-year-long wait. But the excitement around Indian cricketers refuses to die down. It's understandable. After 11 years, India finally lifted the ICC trophy. And it happened after several heartbreaks.

There were many celebrations in Barbados – Rohit Sharma revealed they partied all night at the team hotel – but how could the players not show excitement when the trophy arrived home? The wait was long as the cricketers, support staff, their family members and BCCI officials were stranded in Barbados due to cyclone Beryl, but the wait finally ended on Thursday as a special Air India flight arranged by the BCCI landed in New Delhi at around 6:10 am.
As soon as the flight landed in New Delhi, the BCCI shared a video of the players unboxing the T20 World Cup trophy. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shivam Dube, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja were seen lifting the trophy and kissing it before putting it back in the box.
Rohit was seen celebrating with the trophy. This was very special for the Indian captain. This was his last attempt to win the T20 World Cup and he was successful in it. He became the third Indian captain to win the World Cup after Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni.
Hundreds of fans, carrying placards congratulating their favourite players and waving national flags, lined up outside the Indira Gandhi International Airport to welcome the victorious players despite the incessant drizzle.
Air India's special charter flight AIC24WC – Air India Champions 24 World Cup – departed from Bridgetown, Barbados at 4:50 am local time on Wednesday and reached Delhi at 6:10 am (Indian time) on Thursday after a continuous journey of 16 hours.
The Indian team, its support staff, families of the players and some Board officials and members of the travelling media contingent are also on board the aircraft.
The team won the title, India's fourth World Cup, after a thrilling seven-run win over South Africa in the final on Saturday but could not return home due to the shutdown caused by Cyclone Beryl.
Indian cricketers, coaches and BCCI officials left for ITC Maurya, where special arrangements were made to welcome the World Cup champions.
The team is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and have breakfast with him.
The team will then travel to Mumbai in an open bus to participate in the victory parade, followed by a felicitation ceremony at the Wankhede Stadium.