ians column
CLOSE-IN: A Royal Welcome To The T20 Champs (IANS Column)
Indian cricket can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Winning the T20 World Cup 2024 was the much awaited and desired need of the millions of Indian cricket followers. The Indian team in the last 10 years of playing World Cup tournaments, on many occasions, reached a touching distance, however, to fail in their attempt. This was the trend that needed to be broken and the Indian T20 World Cup side did it in style.
A Royal welcome for the champion side in Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium was an ideal way to felicitate and recognize the glorious win. It took one back 53 years ago, when in 1971, the Indian team under the captaincy of Ajit Wadekar, after a historical Test series win against England, came back to a motorcade welcome through the streets of Mumbai. The Cricket Club of India hosted a red carpet celebration with the stadium full of and brimming with thousands of spectators with only these words on their lips, "Thank you for making India proud".
