New Delhi: All eyes lay on the returning path of Team India as the Indian cricket fans desperately wait to see their T20 World Cup-winning heroes back in the country. The Rohit Sharma-led side would have been home but their travel plans have been thwarted by a hurricane that hit Barbados on Sunday. There were several reports claiming that the all-important final match between India and South Africa would witness rain interruptions.
The rain arrived but a tad bit late, much to everyone’s pleasure, when the things were wrapped up and the full game was conducted. Amid the wild celebrations of Team India, the rain gods brought showers that turned out to be a build-up of an approaching hurricane that is named “Beryl”. The storm has prevented the team’s return, leaving them stranded in the Caribbean city that is currently going through an emergency-like situation.
Reports said that hurricane Beryl, which originated in the Atlantic, had intensified with maximum sustained winds of 210 kmph. The Category 4 hurricane was about 570km east-southeast of Barbados and the city including its airport had been shut down indefinitely. All the flights that were scheduled had to be cancelled and it also took a toll on Team India’s departure.
Possible solution?
The Indian team was supposed to take an Emirates flight from New York via Dubai but a source has told news agency PTI that the plan has now changed to flying the team back to India on a charter flight.
“The team was supposed to leave from here (Bridgetown) to New York and then reach India via Dubai. But now the plan is to get a charter flight straight from here to Delhi. A meeting with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also being considered,” the source said. The India contingent consists of about 70 members including the support staff, families, and officials.
India ended their long ICC trophy drought after 11 years on Saturday, edging past South Africa by seven runs in a nail-biting contest to win the T20 World Cup for the second time. Player of the match Virat Kohli struck a 59-ball 76 to propel India to 176/7 before the Indian pacers scripted a brilliant turnaround in the final moments to restrict South Africa to 169/8 and lift the prestigious trophy.
The fans back in India might have to wait a little longer to welcome the Men in Blue and begin the homely celebrations.
The Indian cricket team lifted the T20 World Cup 2024 in Barbados on Saturday. It has been two days since the momentous victory and the team is yet to return home. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
