Taking to microblogging platform X (formerly Twitter), the flight tracking portal posted, “Our most tracked flight right now —🏏 T20 World Cup champions India on their way home”.
According to the flight tracking portal’s real-time data, 9,500-plus users are tracking the Air India flight carrying the T20 World Cup winner back home while filing this story.
The flight’s call sign represents India’s World Cup triumph, with ‘AIC’ representing ‘Air India Chartered flight’ and ’24WC’ representing the ‘T20 World Cup 2024’ triumph.
The Indian team is expected to reach New Delhi early on July 4 morning (6:20am) after departing from Barbados’ Grantley Adams International Airport on Wednesday (July 3).
The departure of the Indian squad was delayed due to Hurricane Beryl.
“The flight will land at Delhi airport tomorrow 6 am. The team will meet PM Narendra Modi at 11 am at his residence. After this, the team will fly to Mumbai, where a ceremony has been organised,” BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla told PTI.
The Indian team will arrive in Mumbai at 4:00pm and is expected to reach the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA), as they will start a two-hour long open bus parade.
The open bus parade will start approximately at 5:00pm from the NCPA and will go on for about two hours before they reach the Wankhede Stadium.
A felicitation event to honour the players and the squad members has been scheduled between 7:00pm to 7:30pm, after which the players will leave for their hotel.
Captain Rohit Sharma also took to social media to welcome the fans. “We want to enjoy this special moment with all of you. So let’s celebrate this win with a victory parade at Marine Drive & Wankhede on July 4th from 5:00pm onwards.
It’s coming home,” Rohit posted on ‘X’.
BCCI secretary Jay Shah too welcomed all fans to join the victory parade on Thursday evening (June 4).
“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! #TeamIndia,” Shah wrote on ‘X’, formerly Twitter.