The ocean regarded bluer on the reclaimed-land facet on Thursday night. After their delayed departure from Barbados attributable to a hurricane, Rohit Sharma‘s T20 World Cup profitable Group India returned house to a special form of storm with cricket-crazy Mumbaikars filling the stretch from Nariman Level to Wankhede stadium and making the open prime bus carrying India’s cricket heroes fortunately, gently and proudly lower via the surging sea of admirers, every looking forward to a glimpse of the champions.
Hours earlier than the group even landed in Mumbai from Delhi nicely previous 5pm, after having met PM Modi within the morning on touching down within the nationwide capital, tens of hundreds of cricket followers had flooded the route from the NCPA gates ignoring the showers, winding their approach in direction of Wankhede which had been thrown open for a late-evening felicitation.
Some climbed bushes, some tore via barricades, and everybody clicked away furiously on their cell telephones because the group lastly made its grand look atop a blue bus. Captain Rohit Sharma, flanked by Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, and different teammates, held the trophy excessive, waving to the delirious plenty. The air was electrical with chants of ‘Mumbaicha Raja, Rohit Sharma’ and ‘Increase Increase Bumrah’. Because the parade inched ahead, the frenzy left behind a scattering of footwear in its wake, proof of the near-stampede pleasure of the second.
After the bus reached Wankhede, the group did a lap of honour amid resounding applause, with Rohit dedicating the T20 WC title “to the whole nation”.
BCCI office-bearers felicitated the group and introduced it with a cheque of Rs 125 crore. “The large turnout of followers reveals they have been as determined for this T20 World Cup title as we have been,” stated Rohit.
“I’m going to overlook this love. What I noticed on streets tonight, I will not overlook it,” stated outgoing coach Rahul Dravid.
So jubilant have been the crowds from late afternoon that nothing mattered to them besides the joy and anticipation of the group’s parade although they discovered themselves, for fairly a while, on the mercy of nature’s whims. First, the solar baked them to a crisp. Then the skies opened up. But everybody stood patiently for over 4 hours and soaked all of it in as a part of the celebration, with intermittent roars of “India! India!” at full pelt.
‘We’re able to take a bullet for our Males in Blue’
A gang of 20 mates, all clad in their very own model of a Group India jersey, made the lengthy journey from the western suburbs of Kandivli to town’s southernmost tip. Because the prepare doorways opened, they poured out onto the platform, waving the tricolour, blaring vuvuzelas and taking turns to chant the names of every considered one of their cricketing heroes.
Amongst them was Rajendra Damle, 20, who tried to seize the emotion of the second. “It is onerous to clarify the sensation. It is simply pure pleasure,” he stated, his eyes glowing. “They’ve received, nevertheless it seems like we have received. We’re part of this and need to rejoice with them.”
Beside him, Kreena Vaghel, 18, nodded enthusiastically. “It is also our likelihood to point out them how a lot we respect and adore them,” she added. Collectively, they joined the throngs alongside Marine Drive, able to rejoice their heroes’ victory as if it have been their very own.
Excessive schoolers Aditya, Agastya, Sanchay, and Jainit made the trek from Goregaon to hitch the gang. “Surya Kumar Yadav’s catch was the most effective moments within the last,” they chorused, nonetheless buzzing with the joys of the win.
“This victory has been therapeutic for us after the November 2019 ODI World Cup last loss towards Australia. We needed to cheer for our males in blue.” Agastya may barely include his enthusiasm. “Excited to see Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, we’ll be trailing them from NCPA to Wankhede. Rain or solar would not matter. We’re able to take a bullet for our males in blue.”
Meenal Shah from Ghatkopar stood proudly amidst the gang, holding up an image collage that includes Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid. The poster learn: “Finish of an Period: India received, however misplaced these diamonds… Please do not go.” It was a heartfelt plea that captured the sentiment of many, amid the celebratory ambiance of the parade. “I made this poster as a result of I really feel so emotionally hooked up,” she defined. “I am unable to bear the considered their retirement from worldwide T20s and India enjoying with out them.”
In the meantime, N B Chittalwala from Mumbra, Thane, busy scouting for an excellent vantage level for his spouse and two daughters, 13 and 4, reminisced, “In 1983, my father took me to the airport to see the World Cup-winning group. Later, I used to be a part of Dhoni’s 2007 T20 profitable parade, too. Now it is my flip to offer my daughters the identical expertise.”
Amid all of the ‘Rohit,’ ‘Dhoni’ and ‘Virat’ t-shirt-sporting followers, Pradeep Gond from Kandivli took his fandom to the subsequent stage. His t-shirt learn ‘Akaay’ on the back-the identify of Virat Kohli’s son. “That is additionally my one-month previous son’s identify,” Pradeep stated. “I named him after what Virat named his son as a result of I am his largest fan,” he added.
