Team India's Celebratory Victory Parade at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium

When Rohit Sharma declared, "Mumbai never disappoints," he perfectly encapsulated the city's overwhelming support for his T20 World Cup-winning team. The celebration commenced at Marine Drive and culminated at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.

A Memorable Homecoming for Rohit Sharma and His Team

Seven months ago, Rohit Sharma, a proud Mumbaikar, walked off the field in tears after India's heartbreaking defeat in the ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad. However, the tide turned last Saturday in Bridgetown when he lifted the T20 World Cup trophy. Since then, joy has been a constant companion for him. On Thursday, this joy was shared with his team amidst the exuberant atmosphere of his hometown, on the very ground where he has experienced many career milestones.

The Long Journey Back to Mumbai

Despite the exhaustion from a gruelling flight from Barbados to Delhi for a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, followed by a journey to Mumbai, Rohit and his team were determined to relish every moment of their victory. Rohit's sentiment of wanting to "enjoy every minute, every second of it" resonated with his teammates, setting the tone for the celebrations.
As the team arrived at Wankhede Stadium, they were met with a thunderous welcome from fans who had eagerly awaited their arrival since 4 PM. Rohit, leading by example, was the first to break into a jubilant dance, setting off a chain reaction. Virat Kohli soon joined him, dragging him closer to the energetic dhol tasha group performing in the MCA Pavilion. Though Wankhede might not be the largest stadium in India, its ability to generate an electric atmosphere is unrivalled, and Thursday was no different.

Celebrations and Commendations

The crowd's cheers reached a crescendo for Rohit's leadership, Kohli's perseverance, Bumrah's precision, Suryakumar's spectacular catch, and Pandya's all-around performance. After the formalities, including speeches and the presentation of a ₹125 crore cheque, the team embarked on a much-anticipated victory lap around the stadium.
In 2007, an open bus parade from the airport to Wankhede took nearly six hours and brought the city's western part to a halt. Former captain MS Dhoni had remarked that he hadn't realized the magnitude of their win until they left the airport. This time, although the distance was shorter, the fans' enthusiasm remained undiminished, causing the southern tip of Mumbai to come to a standstill. Rohit had invited fans to join the celebration through a post on social media, and they responded with unmatched zeal. The scenes rivalled, if not surpassed, those of the 2007 parade and the 2011 ODI World Cup victory celebration at the same venue.