🏏Team India Victory Road Show in Mumbai🏏

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Exuberant fans followed them despite monsoon showers and heavy security deployment before Prime Minister Narendra Modi rolled out the red carpet for a breakfast meet as the T20 World Cup-winning Indian cricketers returned home to a euphoric reception, on Thursday.

Hundreds of supporters, holding placards congratulating their favourites and waving the national flag, braved the inclement weather to wait outside the airport for the victorious side, which defeated South Africa by seven runs in the final in Bridgetown on Saturday last week.

There was dancing, there were multiple cakes, and there were fans on streets showing just why cricket is the most passionately followed sport in the country. The weary players joined in the fun after arriving at the hotel from airport to complete the party atmosphere.

"We have waited for this moment for the past 13 years. The team has made us proud by winning the World Cup," a fan, who claimed to have been waiting since 4:30am in the morning said, referring to India's last World Cup triumph which came back in 2011.

The side was unable to head back home immediately after the title win due to a shutdown forced by hurricane Beryl in Barbados. They were cocooned in their hotel before the BCCI secretary Jay Shah made arrangements for a special charter flight.

Heavy security was deployed to keep the crowd in check at the Indira Gandhi International airport but that did little to dampen the spirits as fans cheered enthusiastically holding up posters of star batter Virat Kohli, skipper Rohit Sharma and outgoing head coach Rahul Dravid.

Two buses were stationed outside the T3 Terminal to ferry the players to ITC Maurya Sheraton, where they were greeted by dhol and traditional Bhangra dancers.

Most of them, including skipper Rohit Sharma, all-rounder Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant, shook a leg with the assembled dancers, giving them a memory that would last a lifetime.

Even the on-duty security personnel had smiles on their faces as the players let their hair down after the long journey, shook hands with everyone who wanted to and moved into their rooms after cutting yet another cake that was kept ready for them.

Tired but excited, they acknowledged the waiting fans by waving at them and flashing warm smiles.

Suryakumar, who took the sensational match-winning catch of David Miller in the final, was the most animated in responding to the cheering.

Pant, who returned to international cricket at the just-concluded event after a life-threatening car accident, saluted the gathered crowd, while pacer Mohammed Siraj blew flying kisses in their direction.

Rohit and Player of the Final Kohli, both of whom retired from T20Is at the end of India's campaign, were among the last to come out of the VIP exit.

Rohit raised the coveted trophy for the fans to catch a glimpse before boarding the bus. Kohli, on his part, gave a thumbs up to acknowledge the support.

In their excitement to see their heroes in person, some fans claimed that they had been waiting outside the airport since last night.

Mumbai's Marine Drive comes to a standstill!

17:28 (IST) Jul 04

Team India Arrives Home Live Updates: Traffic advisory issued

The Mumbai traffic police have announced the closure of several roads in South Mumbai due to the scheduled T20 World Cup trophy victory parade, which will take place on Thursday evening.

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Victory parade delayed in Mumbai!

The start of the T20 World Champion Indian cricket team's victory parade in Mumbai at the Marine Drive on Thursday was delayed as the squad landed in the city a little after 5:00 pm local time.

As per the itinerary shared by the officials here, the T20 World Cup winning side was slated for a two-hour open bus parade from the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) in Nariman Point till the Wankhede Stadium from 5:00pm to 7:00pm.

However, it was learnt that the team could only leave New Delhi by 3:42 pm after reaching the national capital for a meeting with the Indian PM Narendra Modi earlier in the day, having returned from Barbados only early in the morning.

The Wankhede Stadium was thrown open to fans, who filled up the stands within minutes to celebrate the Indian cricket team's title triumph last Saturday.

The iconic stadium which witnessed India's last ODI World Cup triumph in 2011 had its stands filled to the brim by passionate fans as thousand others waited outside the gates which were closed around 5:00pm.

A packed Wankhede but no cricket

A packed Wankhede on a non-cricket day, must be something special. It is. The city that hosted the victory parade of the 2007 T20 World Cup, the venue that hosted India's ODI World Cup triumph in 2011, is also entrusted with the celebrations of the 2024 T20 World Cup win. And even on a rainy day, Mumbai hasn't disappointed and turned up in numbers. Mihir Vasavda with this glorious image of a full capacity Wankhede:

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IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THOSE IN MUMBAI

The Mumbai traffic police have banned parking of vehicles from morning to night on 10 roads around the victory parade route of the Indian Cricket Team. Full list here:

For N S Road, Veer Nariman Road, Madam Cama Road, Free Press Marg, Dinshaw Vacha Road and Maharshi Karve Road, parking will be completely banned.

Parking will also be banned from morning to night on Barrister Rajni Patel Marg, Ramnath Goenka Marg, Vinay K Shah Road and Jamanalal Bajaj Marg, except for vehicles of members of Vidhan Bhavan as the assembly session is underway.

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Scenes at Marine Drive

Amit Kamath: No sight of Rohit Sharma, the team or the trophy yet. So they brought a replica trophy and started their own celebration on the streets.

Anil Dias: There's a group that won a local tournament in Kandivali and have brought the trophy here. People are going crazy, trying to get a pic with it.