India’s T20 World Cup win in Barbados was met with nationwide celebrations as Rohit Sharma and his team brought an end to the country’s global trophy drought. Virat Kohli’s match-winning 76 in the final against South Africa secured a seven-run victory and marked the end of his illustrious T20 international career with a silver trophy in hand.
The triumph was a long time coming, with over a decade of heartbreaks in knockout matches of ICC World Cups, including disappointments at home in 2014 and 2023. The victory was a momentous occasion for Indian cricket fans, who took to the streets in jubilation wearing blue shirts and waving flags in cities like New Delhi.
Midnight celebrations erupted across the country, with fans shedding tears of joy and dancing in the streets of Mumbai. In Lucknow, parents joyfully tossed their little ones in the air inside shopping malls, while car parades took place in Ahmedabad well into the early hours of the morning. The historic win brought a sense of pride and unity to a nation that lives and breathes cricket.