What Did Rohit, Kohli and Bumrah, Do During Their 16-Hour Air India Flight?
3 min read
Despite the lengthy wait, it was worthwhile. Early on Thursday morning, the Indian cricket team which had won the World Cup finally touched down with the trophy at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. After five days, and a 16-hour special trip, the World Cup heroes of India finally arrived home. Hurricane Beryl left the BCCI executives, the Rohit Sharma-led team, their families, and the coaching and support personnel stuck in Bridgetown and Barbados. As soon as the airport reopened following a two-day closure, the BCCI had to make plans for a special chartered flight to return the players home.
In a thrilling final at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on June 29 (Saturday), India defeated South Africa by seven runs to win the T20 World Cup for the first time in seventeen years. Additionally, it was their first World Cup championship since they won the ODI series in 2011 under MS Dhoni. Long-lasting festivities took place at the team hotel in Barbados, but as a Category 5 hurricane devastated the Caribbean islands, India’s intentions to fly home were called off.
READ MORE: India Ends World Cup Drought: A Historic Victory
The weather prediction indicated another cyclone was expected in the following 48 hours, so after four days, BCCI called Air India to request a charter flight to save the Indian cricket players. To bring the champions home, Air India answered the phone and canceled a planned trip from Newark to New Delhi.
After a 16-hour nonstop trip, the Air India special charter aircraft AIC24WC, or Air India Champions 24 World Cup, took off from Barbados on Wednesday at 4:50 a.m. local time and landed in Delhi at 6 a.m. (IST) on Thursday.
How Indian Players enjoyed their 16- hour flight?
The Indian cricket players had a lot of energy despite the lengthy travel. In a video, BCCI provided snippets of the atmosphere during the journey. Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli expressed their feelings.
Twenty or so Indian sports journalists who had been stranded in the Caribbean islands were also returned home by the airplane, and they supplied information about the activities of the Indian cricket players throughout the sixteen-hour voyage.
Travelling with the prestigious 🏆 on the way back home! 😍
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 4, 2024
🎥 WATCH: #TeamIndia were in excellent company during their memorable travel day ✈️👌 – By @RajalArora #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/0ivb9m9Zp1
The cricket players wanted everyone to act like family and keep the flight a private event, therefore BCCI made a particular request not to record or take any images inside the aircraft, according to reporters from several news organizations on board that special Air India flight.
READ MORE: India vs Zimbabwe: Full squad, squad and Streaming Details
In order to express gratitude to the Indian team for ending the lengthy wait for a World Cup, the Air India pilot made special statements. A special statement was made halfway through the trip to honor and recognize head coach Rahul Dravid, who will no longer be present in the Indian team’s locker room.
According to India Today, the Indian players, their families, and the support staff were residing in the business class. However, several players, including head coach Rahul Dravid, leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, batsman Suryakumar Yadav, captain Rohit Sharma, and vice-captain Hardik Pandya, made their way into the economy section to have conversations with them.
In reality, Jasprit Bumrah, the tournament player, was spotted watching his kid Angad to make sure the lengthy trip wouldn’t become too tiring.
World Cup is back to India after 17 years
It's home 🏆 #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/bduGveUuDF
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 4, 2024
Additionally, BCCI made a special gift for the onboard media staff. The T20 World Cup trophy was theirs to hold and use for pictures.
Hundreds of fans braved the rain to greet the winning team, waving the national flag and carrying signs applauding their favorites.
The players arrived in New Delhi and made their way to the ITC Maurya Hotel. They have an appointment to meet in PM Modi’s office. Then, they’re going to Mumbai by plane. An open bus tour is planned to depart from Marin Drive and arrive at the Wankhede Stadium at 5:00 p.m.
