NEW DELHI: Thousands gathered inside Mumbai's iconic Wankhede Stadium and sang 'Vande Mataram' during Team India's T20 World Cup victory parade. India clinched their second T20 World Cup title by defeating South Africa in the thrilling final, prompting Rohit Sharma and his team to embark on a victory lap at Wankhede Stadium, expressing heartfelt gratitude to the crowd for their unwavering support.
Amid the celebrations, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and the entire Indian team joined in singing 'Vande Mataram' with the enthusiastic crowd.
The atmosphere echoed the iconic 2011 ODI World Cup final, where chants of the same anthem accompanied MS Dhoni's match-winning six against Sri Lanka.
1/10:T20 World Cup: Team India victory parade
ANI
2/10:PM Modi and Rohit Sharma
<p><br /><br />India's T20 World Cup winners returned home to a heroes' welcome, greeted by huge crowds of euphoric fans and praised by a grinning Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a private reception.<br /><br /><br /></p>PTI
3/10:Rohit Sharma
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: 0.121826px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Frenzied crowds shouted "India, India" after the team landed at Delhi airport from the Caribbean, having been delayed for days by Hurricane Beryl.</p>AP
4/10:Rohit Sharma
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: 0.121826px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">The team waved to the crowds and danced to drums and live music at their hotel before heading off to meet Modi at his residence.</p>PTI
5/10:India champions
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: 0.121826px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Rohit and his team wore Indian jerseys emblazoned with "Champions", as broadcasters showed images of them posing with their trophy and the premier.</p>Agencies
6/10:Bus of champions
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: 0.121826px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Evening saw the team paraded in an open-topped bus through the financial capital Mumbai, the birthplace of India's cricket obsession, along a seafront route thronging with jubliant crowds.</p>Reuters
7/10:Wankhede Stadium
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: 0.121826px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">They took a victory lap in front of thousands more fans at Wankhede Stadium, the site of India's last World Cup win for the 50-over edition of the tournament in 2011. </p>AFP
8/10:Sea of fans
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: 0.121826px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Despite monsoon rain, crowds gathered outside New Delhi's airport long before dawn, waiting for a glimpse of their idols, who had beaten South Africa on Saturday in a thrilling final in Barbados.</p>AP
9/10:Rahul Dravid
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: 0.121826px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">The final match marked a poignant milestone for Coach Rahul Dravid, 51, as it was his last game in charge. Dravid, who had experienced the disappointment of a lackluster 2007 World Cup campaign as a captain, redeemed himself as a coach, masterminding India's unbeaten run to the title. <br /></p>Reuters
10/10:Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma
<p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); font-family: Merriweather, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 300; letter-spacing: 0.121826px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Rohit, Kohli and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja all announced their retirement from T20 international cricket after the final.</p>PTIThe parade, commencing from Nariman Point and culminating at Wankhede Stadium, caused traffic to halt as thousands lined the streets to catch glimpses of their cricketing heroes.
For Rohit, who debuted as the youngest member of Mahendra Singh Dhoni's historic 2007 squad, leading his own T20 World Champion Indian cricket team on a victory lap at age 37 was a surreal experience.
1/8:List of trophies won by Rohit Sharma
Getty Images
2/8:T20 World Cup 2024
<p>T20 World Cup triumph was all the more remarkable given the scale of the competition, which featured a record 20 teams vying for the coveted title. Under Rohit's astute leadership, India emerged as the undisputed champions, cementing their dominance in the shortest format of the game</p><br /><br />PTI
3/8:Rohit Sharma
<p>Rohit Sharma spearheaded an unstoppable Indian team to a historic victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup, remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament. </p>AFP
4/8:IPL Trophy
<p>Rohit Sharma has cemented his status as one of the most successful captains in Indian Premier League (IPL) history, leading his team to a remarkable five title wins. This impressive achievement puts him on par with the legendary MS Dhoni, who also boasts five IPL titles as captain. </p>Agencies
5/8:Asia Cup
<p>Rohit Sharma led India to a resounding victory in two Asia Cup, clinching the title as captain and showcasing his leadership prowess. Under his guidance, the team displayed exceptional skill and teamwork, outperforming their opponents to emerge as champions.</p>Agencies
6/8:Champions Trophy
<p>Rohit Sharma led the Mumbai Indians to a thrilling victory in the 2013 Champions League T20, clinching the title with a impressive performance. This triumph marked a significant milestone in Rohit's career, showcasing his leadership skills and ability to perform under pressure.</p>Agencies
7/8:Champions League 2013
<p>Rohit Sharma's career as an opener began with a bang in the 2013 Champions Trophy, where he made a memorable debut in the role, helping India clinch the coveted title. His promotion to the top of the order proved to be a masterstroke, as he formed a formidable partnership with Shikhar Dhawan, and India went on to win the tournament, marking a triumphant start to Rohit's tenure as an opener.</p>Agencies
8/8:T20 World Cup 2007
<p>A youthful Rohit Sharma was part of the Indian team that made history by winning the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007. The tournament, which marked the debut of the T20 format on the global stage, saw India emerge as champions, and Rohit, then just starting his international career, played a vital role in the team's success.<br /></p>AgenciesBefore the victory lap, a viral video on social media captured Virat Kohli instructing Team India players to join in singing 'Vande Mataram' with the crowd. This sparked speculation about whether it was Kohli's initiative to include the anthem during the victory celebrations.
WATCH:
The BCCI honored the Men in Blue with a prize money of Rs 125 crore for their victorious campaign in the T20 World Cup.
Following their monumental contributions to India's second T20 World Cup triumph, skipper Rohit Sharma and superstar Virat Kohli announced their retirements from T20 Internationals.
Kohli, awarded player of the match for his sublime 76 in the final against South Africa, was the first to announce his decision, followed shortly by Rohit, who stated that having achieved his goals, it was time to step aside.
