Mumbai Buzzing With ‘India Ka Raja Rohit Sharma’ As Champions Arrive; Felicitation Ceremony Likely Delayed

The excitement is palpable as the clock ticks down to the grand felicitation ceremony for Team India at Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium, celebrating their triumph in the T20 World Cup 2024 in Barbados. The Men in Blue, led by local hero Rohit Sharma, touched down in the Maximum City at 5:30 PM, but the fervor among the fans had already reached fever pitch hours before their arrival.

Two Indian icons, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, were honored by the airline Vistara. The call sign assigned to the Indian team’s Vistara flight from Delhi to Mumbai is unique. ‘UK1845’ represents the jersey numbers of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

The gates of Wankhede Stadium, specifically Nos. 2, 3, and 4, were opened precisely at 4:00 PM on this memorable Thursday. In a gracious gesture, the BCCI and the Maharashtra Cricket Association made entry free, inviting fans to partake in this historic celebration.

Chants of “Mumbai Cha Raja Rohit Sharma” reverberate through the stadium, paying tribute to the hometown boy who led India to World Cup glory. The atmosphere in the stadium is electric, with drums beating in rhythm and fans waving the Tricolor, creating a vibrant mosaic of national pride and sporting euphoria. The felicitation ceremony, originally set to commence at 7:00 PM, might be delayed to 8:00-8:30 PM.

Also read: Vidhan Bhavan To Host Felicitation Ceremony For Rohit Sharma And Team

The players will embark on an open-top bus parade from Nariman Point to Wankhede Stadium, allowing fans along the route to catch a glimpse of the cricket stars with the iconic trophy, which India has won after a drought of more than a decade. This victory marks India’s second triumph in the T20 World Cup, following M.S. Dhoni’s team’s success in the inaugural edition in 2007.

Earlier on Thursday, the Indian team landed on home soil in the early hours and was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd in Delhi. The heroes’ journey began with a jubilant cake-cutting ceremony at ITC Maurya in Delhi, followed by a special meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence before they departed for Mumbai.