Following their World Cup win in Barbados, India is facing obstacles in returning home due to a hurricane warning issued by the Barbados government. The hurricane, classified as 'very dangerous,' has thrown the return itinerary into uncertainty, prompting the BCCI to make immediate arrangements.
The Indian team will remain in Bridgetown for one more day. According to the World Cup schedule, Sunday was designated as the reserve day for the final, and the team was originally set to fly out on Monday. The initial itinerary had the team flying to New York and then taking Emirates flights to Mumbai. However, due to the hurricane, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah is overseeing alternative arrangements.
The BCCI is determining whether the Barbados airport will remain open, with reports suggesting it may be closed from 8 pm on Sunday. As a result, the board is considering hiring a charter from the US to fly directly to India.
"Beryl, the first hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic season, intensified into a 'very dangerous' Category 3 storm on Sunday morning as it churned toward Barbados and the Windward Islands, promising destructive hurricane-force winds and life-threatening storm surge," CNN reported.
With the hurricane affecting the itinerary, the entire entourage, including support staff, families, and officials, consists of about 70 members, requiring a large enough aircraft. Such aircraft are not available in the Caribbean, so efforts are underway to secure one from the United States.
As of Sunday, the plan is to fly all team members and their families to New Delhi, where a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi is being considered. The Prime Minister personally called several team members, including captain Rohit Sharma, coach Rahul Dravid, and star batsman Virat Kohli, to congratulate them after Saturday's victory.
Jay Shah stated, "This team truly embodies a rising, vibrant, and resilient India, asserting its rightful place in the world of cricket. I am delighted that, as the governing body of the sport in India, the BCCI has played a part in this team's success through our relentless focus on identifying, grooming, and nurturing the right talent. Under the exceptional leadership of Rohit Sharma, this team has shown remarkable resolve and resilience, becoming the first team in the history of the ICC T20 World Cup to win the tournament unbeaten.
"They have faced and silenced their critics with stellar performances time and again. Their journey has been nothing short of inspirational. Led by Rohit Sharma, and ably assisted by Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and others, they have fulfilled the dreams and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians."
Earlier in the evening, Shah, on behalf of BCCI, announced whopping prize money of INR 125 crore to the Indian team as an incentive for winning the World Cup.