A human tsunami took over the streets of Mumbai yesterday, as the city that never stops stood still for hours, welcoming the Indian Champions, the T20 Cricket World Cup Team in an unprecedented show of love, cricket fandom and madness.
The iconic Wankhede Stadium was thrown open to fans, who filled up the stands within minutes to celebrate India’s victory over South Africa last Saturday.
Team India’s flight from Delhi to Mumbai was given a ‘water salute’ as it touched down in the City of Dreams.
Lakhs of jubilant fans lined up the picturesque Marine Drive in anticipation of the team’s arrival for the open bus Victory Parade planned from Nariman Point to Wankhede Stadium.
In a repeat of the historic road show held in the city 17 years ago, when Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s team had beaten cricketing-rivals Pakistan in the final of the inaugural 2007 World T20 in South Africa, Rohit Sharma’s world champion team on Thursday was also honoured by a mammoth and truly unprecedented people’s victory parade.
Mumbaikar crowds began to swell in the afternoon as fans started gathering to catch a glimpse of the World Cup heroes. The iconic Wankhede Stadium was overflowing with fans as the Indian team danced and celebrated their victory with the nation, even as thousands more waited outside the gates which were closed around 5:00pm. The heavy shower in Mumbai could hardly deter the enthusiasm of the crowd, and was in fact seen as a welcome sign of a victory well deserved!
Chants of ‘Mumbai cha raja Rohit Sharma’ were heard across the stadium welcoming the 37-year-old Rohit, a local boy and a crowd favourite in the city.
Signalling his grand return to Mumbai, Hardik Pandya, the India vice-captain and also the captain of the city’s IPL franchise, emerged from the airport with the World Cup trophy in his hands. The crowd erupted in joy as the players began their parade on the streets of Mumbai. For the 30-year-old, it was nothing short of a redemption as he was rolled a red carpet by the Mumbai crowd that not so long ago booed him after he replaced Rohit as Mumbai Indians skipper.
Flanked by BCCI secretary Jay Shah, president Roger Binny, treasurer Ashish Shelar, vice president Rajeev Shukla, Team India players took turns to hold the trophy and wave the Tricolour. Fans were seen taking pictures of the champions on the bus with some enthusiasts even climbing on trees to get a closer look of the heroes.
For a city that never sleeps, nor stops, it was truly a night for the history books.
