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The Indian cricket team, which won the T20 World Cup, arrived back in the country on Thursday via a specially arranged charter flight. 

 

Despite a steady drizzle and heavy security deployment, scores of fans gathered outside the airport to welcome the players, though they were kept at a distance from the team. 

 

Touching down in Delhi, the Indian Cricket Team brings home the World Cup T20 trophy! Amid cheers and applause, the nation celebrates their historic win. Welcome back, champions!#ChampionsReturn #WorldChampions #DelhiAirport pic.twitter.com/Et7c7QMBZ1

— Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) July 4, 2024

 

 

Braving the weather, hundreds of supporters, holding signs to congratulate their favourite players and waving the national flag, gathered to give a warm welcome to the victorious side. 

 

The team had defeated South Africa by seven runs in the final in Bridgetown last Saturday.

 

"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.

 

The side could not head back home immediately after the title win due to a shutdown forced by Hurricane Beryl in Barbados. They were cocooned in their hotel before the BCCI arranged the special charter flight.

 

The Air India special charter flight AIC24WC—Air India Champions 24 World Cup—left Barbados around 4:50 a.m. local time on Wednesday and arrived in Delhi at 6 a.m. (IST) on Thursday after a 16-hour nonstop journey.

 

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

 

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.