At Marine Drive, on Thursday, Team India and skipper Rohit Sharma who emerged winners of the T20 World Cup held an open-bus parade. It was a celebration similar to the one that followed in 2007 when they won the first T20 World Cup.
In a clip posted by the BCCI, Rohit said, “In 2007 it felt different. We started off in the afternoon and this is in the evening.I cannot forget 2007 as it was my first World Cup but this is a little more special because I was leading the team so it’s a very proud moment for me. This is going to be mad,”
Long before the plane having left Delhi at 5 p.m., hours earlier than that after meeting with PM Narendra Modi in the morning upon arrival in New Delhi from Mumbai, tens of thousands of cricket fans filled up NCPA gates’ route ignoring rain showers and meandered their way barefooted towards Wankhede which had been opened up for late evening felicitation.
“The excitement is palpable; you can see how much this means not only to us as players but also as a nation. So I am very happy that we could achieve something for them as well,” added the Indian Captain.
Rohit led his teammates to perform a lap of honour amidst loud applause after their bus reached Wankhede. Rohit dedicated it “to entire India” when asked about whom he would like to dedicate his victory speech specifically.
“This is such a special event for us since we brought our World Cup here at India where we won ODI WC in 2011. Everyone played their part although I wouldn’t point out any single person for praise.” Said Rohit addressing Wankhede Stadium crowd.
The open bus parade which lasted almost six hours from airport to Wankhede causing traffic jam throughout western suburbs done in 2007 unlike this time. The coach, at that time MS Dhoni had said “…as he stepped out of the airport, then he realized how big the win was…”
This time it was a shorter distance and the fans were equally excited. This time it was the southern tip of the metropolis that came to a grinding halt. Rohit called upon well-wishers to join in the celebrations via a post on FR and they did. It rivaled if not surpassed scenes from both 2007 parade and victory for India in 2011 ODI World Cup at Wankhede Stadium.
