Thousands of people turned out to welcome Team India after their T20 World Cup triumph in Ahmedabad. (Image: Sahil Malhotra/TimesofIndia.com) TimesofIndia.com in Ahmedabad: When the fireworks went off at the Narendra Modi Stadium, there was not the expected frenzy outside the venue. Thousands of people who rushed to their seats before the start of the T20 World Cup final were in no hurry to leave as India celebrated the T20 World Cup title in 2026. The impromptu bhangra, celebrations with loved ones and victory laps were moments that every Indian fan would relish for the rest of their lives and Ahmedabad was certainly not going to pass up the opportunity. Some people without tickets crowded the aisles leading to the gigantic facility. For them, it was about screaming their lungs out while dancing to the tunes of “India! India!” and dhol beats that broke out the moment India completed the formalities.Although it was going to be a long night of celebration, Suryakumar Yadav and Gautam Gambhir’s main priority was to take the trophy to the stadium temple with ICC chairman Jay Shah. The three prayed and received a blessing before moving on to the next set of events.
Ahmedabad erupts as Team India arrives at the hotel after winning the T20 World Cup
Around 2:30 a.m., word spread that the team was nearby, and the loud sirens made them much easier to detect. Hundreds of people gathered around the walls of the hotel to catch a glimpse of their superstars, and nearly a thousand people crowded both sides of the heavily secured streets. Police blocked the direct route to the hotel, but Indian cricket fans maneuvered around the home stretch to get there. Hotel staff prepared for the chaos by blocking off all entry points to the facility, even making guests wait outside before opening the barricades.
A huge crowd gathered outside Team India’s hotel in Ahmedabad after the T20 World Cup triumph. (Image: Sahil Malhotra/TimesofIndia.com)
As Hardik Pandya got off the team bus with the trophy, fireworks went off and the players were still ducking for cover as the explosions seemed too close for comfort. The usual flower shower, dhol and music followed, but the whole team rushed to the hotel ballroom. To avoid the crowd and frenzy of the house guests, the hall was not used. While this disappointed some fans who had been waiting for hours, it seemed like the most sensible approach.
Gautam Gambhir (left), Jay Shah (right) and Suryakumar Yadav (back) after offering the T20 World Cup trophy to Lord Hanuman in Ahmedabad. (PTI)
Although the entry was smooth, the party wasn’t over. Family members and managers of several players casually wandered near the entrance. However, they also received a message: there is a party going on and the players won’t be free for at least another few hours.
Team India’s bus heads towards a hotel in Ahmedabad after winning the T20 World Cup. (Image: Sahil Malhotra/TimesofIndia.com)
The crowd also began to clear from around the hotel, and the police chased away the handful who tried to climb over the walls to get a look. Some of the players had already started their return trip plans, while most had one of the soundest sleeps of their lives. As Surya and most players said after winning the title, “It will take at least 3-4 days to absorb the feeling of winning the T20 World Cup at home. But it’s surreal.”
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