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. “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.

The victorious Indian cricket team remains stranded in Barbados after a Category 4 hurricane hit the Caribbean islands at Bridgetown, Barbados in the wee hours of Monday, delaying its departure back home by at least another day. The Rohit Sharma-led side has stayed put in a five-star hotel since its triumph over South Africa in the T20 World Cup final here on Saturday. As per the forecast, life-threatening winds and storm lashed Barbados and nearby islands on Monday. The country, with a population of close to three lakh, has been in a lockdown since Sunday evening.

The main international airport is shut until further notice with water and electricity supply also getting disrupted.

“Like you people, we are also stuck here. First we need to see how to get the players and everyone out of here safely and then we will think about the felicitation upon arrival in India,” said BCCI secretary Jay Shah, who got here ahead of the big final.

The squad, along with top BCCI officials including Jay Shah, was supposed to leave for India via a charter flight on Monday but it was not possible due to the closure of the airport. The BCCI is also trying to get the travelling Indian media out of the hurricane-hit region.

“There was a charter flight we were trying for Monday but the airport is shut so that option is gone. We are in touch with multiple charter operators but it all depends on the airport operations. As per the current state of affairs, no plane can land or take off.

“The plan is to fly directly to India with a refuelling stop in US or Europe. We are in touch with airport officials. The airport is expected to remain shut till Tuesday afternoon. If the weather improves significantly, then it might open earlier. The wind speeds have to come down for the flight operations to start. You can’t really fight with nature. We need to wait and see,” a source told PTI.

Former India bowler Harbhajan Singh has refused to criticise Virat Kohli‘s poor start to the 2024 T20 World Cup. Instead, Harbhajan has raised the poor batting conditions at New York’s Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, and said that it would be unfair to judge a batsman’s performance on such a pitch. Kohli has scored just five runs so far in the tournament; 1 against Ireland, 4 against Pakistan and a golden duck against the USA. Harbhajan asked for improved consistency from the Indian batting.

“I do not want to judge anyone on that pitch (New York pitch) as batting was difficult on that pitch,” said Harbhajan, while speaking on Star Sports.

“Virat Kohli didn’t score runs because the conditions were like that,” said Harbhajan. “You cannot judge a player in those conditions,” he added.

Harbhajan stressed on the importance of partnerships at the top, in order to set a platform for the middle order.

“Runs are obviously expected from Virat Kohli. We also need to consistently see partnerships that we aren’t getting in the first six overs. Then your middle order is set. Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube have scored runs,” said Harbhajan.

Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube played a pivotal part in guiding India to victory against USA. After struggling at 39-3, Suryakumar scored a measured half-century and Dube put up an unbeaten 31.

Kohli will get a chance to improve his form ahead of the Super 8 stage, as India move from New York to Lauderhill, Florida.

The men in blue have already sealed their spot in the Super 8 of the 2024 T20 World Cup, winning all three of their New York games against Ireland, Pakistan and the USA.

India are guaranteed to face Australia and Afghanistan in the Super 8, with Bangladesh looking likely to be the fourth team in the group.