Mumbai Police Issues Traffic Advisory Ahead Of T20 World Cup Winning Indian Team's Road Show

The Indian cricket team returned home after clinching the T20 World Cup title via a specially arranged charter flight on Thursday early morning. The Air India special charter flight which left Barbados around 4:50 am local time on Wednesday arrived in Delhi at 6 am (IST) on Thursday after a 16-hour non-stop journey.

The Indian squad, its support staff, the players' families and some BCCI officials were aboard the flight along with members of the travelling media contingent.

The Indian squad will meet PM Narendra Modi at 11 am at his residence. After meeting the Prime Minister, the players will fly to Mumbai to participate in an open bus victory parade followed by a felicitation ceremony at the Wankhede Stadium.

A similar roadshow was held in Mumbai 17 years ago when MS Dhoni's team had beaten arch-rivals Pakistan in the final of the inaugural 2007 World T20 in South Africa.

Mumbai Police have made elaborate security arrangements for the team's roadshow on Thursday evening. Adequate police personnel are being deployed at Marine Drive between Nariman Point and the Wankhede Stadium.

As a large number of cricket fans are expected to gather to watch the procession, police are taking utmost precaution to avoid any untoward incident.

Traffic arrangements will be in place from 3 pm to 9 pm on Thursday.

The Mumbai traffic police has urged travellers to use alternate route via Churchgate, M.K. road, Metro Junction to Princess Street flyover towards the northbound journey. The Southbound traffic towards Wankhede Stadium is also likely to be congested.

Motorists through Churchgate M. K. Road, Metro Junction to Princes Street alternate route should be used for travelling on North Channel.

At the Delhi airport, scores of fans lined up outside the Delhi airport to welcome the players despite a steady drizzle and heavy security deployment. Supporters were holding placards congratulating their favourites and waving the national flag.

"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 4:30 am in the morning said, referring to India's last World Cup triumph which came back in 2011.

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.

In their excitement to see their heroes in person, some fans claimed that they had been waiting outside the airport since last night. "We have been here since last night. It was very important for us to win this World Cup after losing the ODI World Cup last year," a group of fans said.

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

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

Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant saluted the gathered crowd, while pacer Mohammed Siraj blew flying kisses in their direction.

Rohit and Player of the Final Virat 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, who held the coveted trophy in his hands, raised it for the fans to catch a glimpse before boarding the bus. Kohli gave a thumbs up to acknowledge the support before taking his place in the bus.

The squad won the country its second T20 world title, ending an 11-year wait for an ICC trophy, on June 29. India's previous ICC title was in 2013 when it won the Champions Trophy under Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Its earlier World Cup titles came in 1983 (ODI), 2007 (T20) and 2011 (ODI).

(with PTI inputs)