Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted India’s victorious ICC T20 World Cup cricket team for breakfast at his residence on Thursday. Sharing a photo with the team on his X handle, Modi wrote, “An excellent meeting with our Champions!” He also added, “Hosted the World Cup winning team at 7, LKM and had a memorable conversation on their experiences through the tournament.”
The ‘Men in Blue’ sported a special jersey during their meeting with Modi. The jersey featured two stars above the BCCI’s emblem and the word ‘CHAMPIONS’ written in bold letters. India’s triumph in the final, defeating South Africa by seven runs on Saturday, marked the end of a 13-year ICC World Cup trophy drought.
The Indian team will be greeted with a grand victory parade in Mumbai on July 4th, beginning at Marine Drive and culminating at the Wankhede Stadium. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah announced the celebration on X, saying, “Join us for the Victory Parade honouring Team India’s World Cup win! Head to Marine Drive and Wankhede Stadium on July 4th from 5:00 pm onwards to celebrate with us! Save the date!”. Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) Secretary Ajinkya Naik confirmed that the parade will be open to the public for free entry.
Some of the players will also meet Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday. Shiv Sena leader Pratap Sarnaik informed ANI that Captain Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dubey, and Yashasvi Jaiswal will be present at the meeting.
The enthusiasm for the team was evident early Thursday morning as crowds gathered outside New Delhi’s airport, enduring the monsoon rain for a glimpse of their favorite cricketers. This victory marks India’s first World Cup triumph since the 2011 50-over edition under the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
