The Indian cricket team was finally able to leave Barbados on Wednesday, thanks to a special flight arranged by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Originally scheduled for Sunday following their victory in the T20 World Cup 2024, the team had to extend their stay due to the threat of storms. For days, the players and other officials stayed in their respective hotels.
The special chartered flight, arranged by BCCI secretary Jay Shah, also included Indian journalists who were in Barbados to cover the tournament and were stranded due to Cyclone Beryl. Following their win, the Rohit Sharma-led team was confined to their hotel on Saturday as the cyclone made landfall, leading to a period of house arrest for security reasons. The storm knocked out power and water supplies, adding to the challenges.
On board were the Indian team, support staff, families of the players, some flight attendants and the media. This initiative by the BCCI is crucial for the safe return of everyone. Team India clinched the World Cup Twenty20 final match with a thrilling seven-run win over South Africa in the final on Saturday.
Team India win the T20 World Cup 2024
The Boeing 777 that picked them up took off from New Jersey in the US on July 2 and touched down in Barbados at about 2 am local time. Airport officials said they did not see the large plane land at Grantley Adams International Airport, which had resumed operations Tuesday.
The group was originally supposed to leave around 6 p.m. They arrive in India on July 2 at 7:45 pm local time. (IST) on Wednesday. However, the flight was delayed due to a late flight arrival in Barbados. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will greet the players upon their return to India and a road show is scheduled in Mumbai to celebrate their victory. The win ended an 11-year winning drought for the Indian team. Hurricane Beryl is now heading towards Jamaica.
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