The Indian cricket team clinched the T20 World Cup 2024 title without losing a single game after they defeated South Africa in a thrilling final. It was a huge occasion for the Rohit Sharma-led side as they produced some brilliant performances and were able to win the T20 World Cup title after 17 years. However, the win was not without its fair share of controversies as some players expressed their displeasure with the scheduling of the competition and the seeding system used by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Some experts also pointed out that India knowing the exact venue of their semifinal match before any other team was not fair to the other sides. Legendary India batter Sunil Gavaskar, however, called the allegations ‘laughable’ and said that the scheduling of most major tournaments are done keeping the Indian audience in mind as they make up a major chunk of the ICC’s revenue.

“There were some comments about the scheduling of the ICC T20 World Cup from some former cricketers from the old powers that were laughable, to say the least. They seemed to forget the fact that the major, if not the only, source of sponsorship for the ICC comes from India. It is therefore understandable that the timing for the telecast will be at a time that is good for Indian viewers. Indian TV has bought the rights for three billion dollars and so, obviously, would want to cash in on that with prime-time viewing for the millions who follow the game in India, which, just for information, would be more than the combined population of both the old powers,” Gavaskar wrote in his column on Sportstar.

Gavaskar also spoke about United States TV channels buying rights for broadcasting the Olympics but pointed out that no one talks about any kind of favouritism in that situation.

“American TV buys broadcast rights for the Olympics for billions of dollars and so has all the marquee events at the Games at a time that is good for its viewers. We haven’t heard a squeak from anybody from the old powers that this favours the U.S. athletes, have we? But then, with them being poodles of USA that would be unwise. The double standards are no longer shocking to the discerning in the subcontinent because, by now, they know what to expect from the old powers. Nothing but jealousy and frustration that they no longer call the shots,” the former Indian cricket team captain added in the column.

Rishabh Pant’s comeback from his career-threatening accident to winning the T20 World Cup has been nothing short of a miracle. He was one of the star attractions when the World Champions went to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi upon landing in India on Thursday. PM Modi spoke to Pant and asked him about his road to recovery and what was going through his head in what was perhaps one of the toughest challenges the left-handed wicketkeeper had to face. Pant revealed that his mother received a call from PM Modi after his accident. 

“I want to start by thanking you so much for the invitation. My accident took place around 1-1.5 years back and I also remember that you called my mother when it had happened. There were a lot of things going through my mind at that point but when my mother told me you called and said ‘there won’t be any problem,’ that made me relax mentally,” said Pant to the Hon. Prime Minister.

Pant made his comeback during the 2024 IPL season where he valiantly led the Delhi Capitals side and went on to score 446 runs in 13 games while averaging 40.55 which earned him a spot in the squad for the World Cup. The mercurial left-hand batsman scored 171 runs in eight matches for the team and was solid behind the stumps in the T20 World Cup.

“During recovery, I used to keep hearing whether I would be able to play again or not. There was a lot of talk on whether I could do wicket-keeping again. So that was in my mind through the past two years. I used to think when I make a return to the field I will try to improve, not for anyone’s validation, but only to prove to myself that I can play international cricket and help India win,” added the Delhi Capitals captain.

India spinner Kuldeep Yadav returned to his hometown Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh after successfully clinching the T20 World Cup 2024 title. Rohit Sharma and co. defeated South Africa in the final by seven runs and added the second T20 World Cup trophy in India’s cabinet. The whole team received a grand welcome on their arrival in Delhi on Thursday as they first met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence and then participated in a grand victory parade in Mumbai. After the team celebration, Kuldeep came to Kanpur and got a similar welcome from his fans over there.

Hundreds of fans came out to welcome their champion, who scalped 10 wickets in T20 World Cup 2024. The fans arranged fireworks, dhols, and music in the honour of Kuldeep.

“We are very happy. We waited for this for a long time. It feels great to see our people here. It is a great pleasure to bring the World Cup. This is more for our India than for us… It was very nice to meet him (Prime Minister Narendra Modi),” Kuldeep told ANI.

#WATCH Uttar Pradesh: Indian cricketer Kuldeep Yadav welcomed on his arrival in Kanpur.

He says, “We are very happy. We waited for this for a long time. It feels great to see our people here. It is a great pleasure to bring the World Cup. This is more for our India than for… pic.twitter.com/vq5XmWjKNn

— ANI (@ANI) July 6, 2024

Following their meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, the players departed for Mumbai. In Mumbai, the Men in Blue had an open bus victory parade from Marine Drive to the iconic Wankhede Stadium. The parade was an affair to remember and marvel at, as thousands of fans gathered at Marine Drive and surrounded the bus before it could even get Indian players on it.

The team went to Wankhede amid cheers, chants, and claps from passionate fans. At the Wankhede, they were felicitated with the prize money of Rs 125 crore by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) office-bearers. Players also talked about their win, and the performances of key players in the T20 World Cup inside a jam-packed Wankhede and danced their hearts out. The event also featured the players taking a victory lap to the tune of the country’s national song, ‘Vande Mataram’.

The flight was organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah and departed on July 2 from a hurricane-struck Barbados before arriving in Delhi at around 6:00 AM on Thursday. Board officials and members of the media contingent from the tournament were also on the flight.

(With ANI Inputs)

Team India received a warm reception from the entire country after they returned home from Barbados with the 2024 T20 World Cup trophy. From a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence in Delhi to a victory parade and a felicitation ceremony at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, the world champions were whole-heartedly welcomed by the fans. After the ceremony, players went to their respective home towns and joined their families. India pacer Mohammed Siraj got a grand welcome when he reached his home town in Hyderabad.

Siraj arrived at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport on Friday and fans turned up in huge numbers to shower their love and support. However, one thing which melted the hearts was Siraj’s love towards his mother.

Taking to Instagram, Siraj shared a picture of his mother, wearing her son’s T20 World Cup winner’s medal. Siraj captioned the picture as with heart emojis. 

After arriving in Hyderabad, Siraj told reporters, “We had to wait 11 years for this moment so I am really happy.”

After the Indian team left the national capital and arrived in Mumbai, the Rohit Sharma-led team kicked off the open-top bus parade from Marine Drive. Fans turned up in numbers, danced to the tune of India’s success, and celebrated the arrival of the T20 World Cup-winning team.

Throughout the parade, players were seen lifting the coveted trophy high in the air and appreciating the support that the fans showed throughout the tournament.

The love of the fans to see their team was clearly visible when some of them climbed on the tree and cheered for the team as the bus went past them.

Once the victory parade ended and the team arrived at the Wankhede Stadium, the Indian cricket players danced to the tunes of ‘dhol’ with fans cheering for them.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) office bearers presented the T20 World Cup-winning Indian team with a cheque of Rs 125 crores here at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

(With ANI Inputs)

During the interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India skipper Rohit Sharma revealed that spin duo Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav suggested the distinctive walk at the podium to receive the T20 World Cup trophy to make the moment memorable. When PM Modi mentioned Rohit’s distinctive walk saying, “I noticed two extreme things in which I could see emotion. When you are going to collect the trophy…” To which Rohit added, “It was such a huge moment for all of us. We all have been waiting for this for years. So, the boys told me ‘Don’t go just like that, do something different…” The Prime Minister jokingly asked, “Was it Chahal’s idea?”. Rohit replied “Chahal and Kuldeep” with a laugh around the room. Interestingly, Rohit Sharma’s unique walk up to the podium is similar to the way Argentina legend Lionel Messi received the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.

Meanwhile, BCCI secretary Jay Shah’s vision and support have played a huge role in Team India’s victory in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. Following the team’s meeting with the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on Thursday, Jay Shah thanked PM Modi for his support.

Rohit Sharma: “Everyone told me to not go to the stage in a simple manner”

PM Narendra Modi “Was this Chahal’s idea?

Rohit Sharma : “Both Chahal & Kuldeep’s idea”pic.twitter.com/Cv0woKf4fQ

— Farrago Abdullah Parody (@abdullah_0mar) July 5, 2024

“It was an absolute pleasure to meet and interact with the Honourable Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi Ji at his official residence upon our arrival from Barbados. Prime Minister Sir has stood by #TeamIndia through ups and downs and has always encouraged the team to give its best

irrespective of the result. We are glad that the World Cup victory has brought a wave of euphoria across the country and filled every Indian with a sense of pride,” read the post by Jay Shah on Instagram.

Shah played a pivotal part in helping the team reach the country after the Champions were left stranded in Barbados due to Hurricane Beryl. The squad, alongside the support staff and several Indian journalists, returned to the country in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Following their meeting with PM Modi, the team rushed to the airport and went to Mumbai for the open-top bus parade and the presentation ceremony at the Wankhede Stadium.