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The Marine Drive to Wankhede Champions Parade: As it happened

By Mumbai Indians

After a 17-year wait, the T20 World Cup trophy is HOME — back to its original abode, to its sporting sanctuary, and to the nation that won the debut edition in 2007. This momentous occasion fills every Indian heart with pride.

Following the initial celebrations in the Caribbean, the Indian cricket team embarked on their historic journey back to India. They had to wait for the weather conditions to stabilise, ensuring a safe landing on the shores of the subcontinent. Finally, on Thursday, July 4, at 6 AM, the team landed, ready to be welcomed by their fans.

When Rohit Sharma and his triumphant touched down in New Delhi, a legion of Indian fans graciously welcomed them, having waited from 4 AM. The crowd followed them as they departed to meet with the Hon. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at his residence at 11 AM.

The team would then depart from the national capital and reach the City of Dreams in the evening. After a bit of delay, the Victory Parade, a grand spectacle of jubilation, began from the National Centre for Performing Arts at Nariman Point along the iconic Marine Drive and then culminated at the Wankhede Stadium.

The countdown to the victorious Indian team stepping onto the lush greens of the Wankhede began at around 4 PM, but that didn’t matter once the fans got to witness their favourite players carry the ICC silverware on their shoulders and lift it individually with sheer joy and happiness.

“Since we came to India, it has been wonderful. The reception here tells you the kind of enthusiasm and waiting people had,” the Hitman said at the felicitation programme.

“As much as this trophy means so much to us, it is for the entire nation. Along with all the players who have represented the country, I think the people who have been waiting for us to win this trophy, this one belongs to them,” he added.

Ro-HIT also paid tribute to Aamchi Mumbai. “Obviously, Mumbai never disappoints when it comes to winning the trophy.”

“We have got a solid reception. And yes, on behalf of my team, the entire BCCI, I would like to thank the fans, the entire nation, and the people who support and watch the game.”

“Along with all of us, for the last 11 years, they are the ones who have been wanting this trophy to come back to India. It’s finally it's here. I'm very, very happy and relieved.”

Rohit Sharma also confessed his thoughts on THAT Surya catch that invariably won the game for India.

“I was standing at long-on, Surya was at long off. And, obviously, Hardik was bowling that crucial over for us. No matter how many runs you need, there's always so much pressure to bowl that over. But hats off to him. Because the wind was blowing across the ground quite heavily.

“We briefly chatted about what we wanted to do. We all know that David Miller can be a very dangerous player. And he's played that role to perfection most of the time. So we wanted to keep it away from him. And you know, Hardik bowled that ball.”

“When it went up in the air, obviously, for a moment, I thought it might go because he hit with the wind. But it was written. Everything was written.”

The Hitman said this mesmerising experience wouldn’t have been possible without the headstrong support of his team and management.

“This walk started 3-4 years ago. It was the effort of what we have done in this period. For us to put a thought to something and have everyone buy into that thought was, again, very challenging. For us to come together and buy into that thought and say that this is what we want to do, this is how we want to play. It takes a lot of courage,” he said.

Rahul Dravid, who ended his stint in the hot seat for India with a career-changing T20 World Cup triumph, called his final unit of players his “family.”

“I think they're like family,” his response when asked what this team meant to him. “It's just been incredible what these boys have done. Just the level of hard work, resilience, fighting spirit, a never-say-die attitude, constantly looking to get better,” he added.

“As a coach and support staff, we could never have asked for anything more. They're fantastically led by Rohit and the senior members of this team, and it's truly a privilege to coach and work with these boys.”

On what he will miss following the end of his role as India’s head coach, Dravid had one straight answer - love from the fans.

Lastly, Rahul Dravid discussed THAT fateful call from Rohit Sharma.

“I mean, I wasn't sure whether I would continue after the 50-over World Cup.”

“There was great joy in having had a fantastic campaign in the 50-over World Cup, but also a little disappointment in the final that we could not get across the line. And for Rohit to pick up the phone to me and say, ‘Rahul, let's have one more crack at it in six or eight months. It would be lovely to have a crack together.’”

“I'm so thankful because because of that, I had the chance to work with this exceptionally great bunch of boys and experience what I've experienced at Barbados and what I've done here. So, I am truly grateful. And yeah, it's probably one of the best phone calls I've received in my life.”

For Jasprit Bumrah, the Player of the Tournament, the victory was emotional but sweet because of the presence of his family.

“Seeing my son, I started crying. I never usually cry after games, but my son was there to see me winning the World Cup, and there are no words for that!” BOOM BOOM said.

JB also expressed immense pride and joy in returning to the Wankhede Stadium as a World Cup winner.

“It feels amazing. This ground is amazing in my life. I came as a U19 kid. I have never seen anything like it. To experience this and the emotions after the game, I have never experienced it,” Bumrah added.

With senior players Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja calling time on their T20I careers, Jasprit Bumrah assured himself and the new generation of players to carry the torch.

“I will count myself as lucky. The experienced players and the confidence that we had. The ability to grab the game by the scruff of their neck is simply magnificent. Our aim is to take Indian cricket forward. We have never won a World Cup before. This gives us more motivation,” he further added.

The 17-year wait for the T20 World Cup title, the 11-year drought for an ICC Trophy, and the timeless prayers said by the Indian cricket fans came true in this one week. Today’s celebration was just a reminder that it won’t be long before the Men in Blue conquer the world again.