Celebrations Delayed as Indian Cricket Team Arrives Late in Mumbai, Rain Adds to the Challenges
July 4, 2024 – Mumbai: Thousands of eager fans gathered along Marine Drive and packed the Wankhede Stadium, awaiting the arrival of India’s victorious T20 World Cup-winning team for a grand felicitation ceremony on Thursday evening. However, the much-anticipated celebrations were delayed as the team’s journey from Delhi to Mumbai was prolonged, and inclement weather further complicated the event’s logistics.
According to reports, the Indian squad landed in Mumbai just after 5 PM local time, much later than the original schedule that had planned for a two-hour open-top bus parade from the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) in Nariman Point to the Wankhede Stadium between 5 PM and 7 PM. The delay was attributed to the team’s late departure from Delhi, where they had met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the day to discuss their triumphant campaign.
“The squad landed in the city a little after 5pm local time,” the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported, adding that the team could only leave New Delhi by 3:42 PM, despite the Delhi-Mumbai flight typically taking around 2 hours and 10 minutes.
The Indian team had arrived in the national capital from Bridgetown, Barbados, at 6 AM on the same day, having flown in on a charter flight after being forced to stay longer in the West Indies due to the impact of Hurricane Beryl, which had resulted in airport closures.
As the massive crowds gathered to celebrate the team’s historic achievement of winning their first-ever T20 World Cup title, the delayed arrival and the onset of evening showers in Mumbai added to the logistical challenges, resulting in a prolonged wait before the festivities could commence.
The rain came down on the eager fans who had gathered at the Wankhede Stadium to welcome the victorious Indian team, further testing the event organizers’ resilience. Despite the setbacks, the spirit of the cricket-loving public remained unbroken, as they continued to cheer on their beloved champions.
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