A sea of humanity choked the sea-facing Marine Drive as the victory parade of the T20 World Cup-winning Indian team snaked through South Mumbai, with thousands of ardent fans craning their necks to catch a glimpse of their favorite stars, literally bringing traffic to a grinding halt.
The open-top bus parade started more than two hours late from the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) in Nariman Point at around 7:30 pm and ended at the Wankhede Stadium.
Normally, the distance is covered in five minutes, but it took more than an hour and a half as the players basked in the adulation of their die-hard fans.
In 2007, Rohit Sharma was the youngest member of Mahendra Singh Dhoni's historic squad. Now, at 37, leading his T20 World Champion Indian cricket team on a victory parade must have felt like déjà vu. He is now the oldest member of the current team, and despite the changing faces over the years, the now-retired Indian T20 skipper has remained a constant.
As the bus navigated through the throng of fans, his thoughts likely drifted back to that September morning in 2007 when Mumbai was as vibrant as it was this Thursday evening.
Chants of "Mumbaicha Raja, Rohit Sharma" (Who's the King of Mumbai? Rohit Sharma) echoed through the streets.
"This (crowd) tells that the desperation we had to win was similar to the desperation which the fans had. The win has brought smiles on faces of crores of people. This is a special team and this trophy belongs to the nation," Rohit said while addressing the fans inside the stadium.
Then there was Hardik Pandya, who earned organic acceptance after a stellar T20 World Cup campaign, being the first to lift the trophy and show it to the fans. Once jeered, Pandya was now celebrated in Mumbai.
The 'Maximum City' was ready to shower 'Maximum Love' on the colorful 'Baroda Bomber,' who has made Mumbai his home. Seeking validation and unconditional love, Pandya was embraced by Mumbai once again.
Perhaps the raindrops were Mumbai's collective apology for the harsh treatment Pandya received during the IPL a few months ago.
The players soaked in the frenzy and mass euphoria of a nation that loves its cricketers more than the game itself.
Many longed for a glimpse of Virat Kohli. For those who traveled from Virar to Thane and beyond, just to feel the excitement, the King did not disappoint. He even pulled the skipper along with Suryakumar Yadav and Axar Patel to dance to the beats of the famous Nashik Dholwalas at Wankhede.
Earlier, the Indian team flew from New Delhi around 3:42 pm after a breakfast meeting with Indian PM Narendra Modi, having returned from Barbados early in the morning.
The Wankhede Stadium was opened to fans, who filled the stands within minutes to celebrate the team's title triumph. After landing, their aircraft received a ‘Water Salute’ at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport’s Terminal 2.
The players were greeted by a sea of fans and media who had been waiting for several hours. Despite intermittent rain, extreme humidity, and chaos, thousands of people remained fixated on their seats despite the lack of food and water arrangements.
A DJ entertained the crowd with songs of all genres, turning Wankhede into a rain-dance party with Vengaboys’ hit ‘To Brazil’ and the country's unofficial sports anthem "Chak de India."
Soon, Wankhede came alive with chants of ‘Sachin… Sachin’ followed by ‘Mumbaicha Raja, Rohit Sharma!’ and ‘India… India’.
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