No bus parade for Team India following Champions Trophy triumph
What's the story
India's recent ICC Champions Trophy triumph has raised questions over the absence of an open bus parade. The team, led by Rohit Sharma, won their third title on March 9 in Dubai. Despite this, there won't be a celebratory procession like the one after India's T20 World Cup win last year. The decision is due to players' commitments to their IPL franchises and is in line with BCCI's past practices, as such parades have been reserved only for WC triumphs.
Team dispersal
Players return to different cities
Meanwhile, the Indian cricket team members are returning to their home cities separately, owing to their IPL commitments. Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya were welcomed back at Mumbai airport on Monday night. Gautam Gambhir, the head coach, and fast bowler Harshit Rana have returned to New Delhi. Star batter Virat Kohli is expected to arrive soon.
Upcoming tournament
IPL 2025 starting soon
The IPL 2025 starts on March 22, giving little time for the champions to unwind with their families before returning to training. The tight schedule also played a role in the decision of not holding a celebratory parade for their latest ICC title win. Notably, BCCI didn't hold a bus parade after India's Champions Trophy win in 2013 under MS Dhoni's captaincy either.
Match highlights
Rohit Sharma's pivotal role in the final
Rohit Sharma was instrumental in India's win against New Zealand in the final, scoring 76 off 83 balls with seven boundaries and three sixes. He was awarded Player of the Match for his efforts. Batting first after winning the toss, New Zealand posted 251/7 in their quota of overs, thanks to valuable contributions from Daryl Mitchell (63) and Michael Bracewell (53*).
Final match analysis
India's successful chase
India chased down the target of 252 runs with six balls to spare, courtesy of Shreyas Iyer (48) and KL Rahul's (34 not out) contributions. Rohit Sharma's leadership and performance played a key role in this victory. The win adds another title to India's cricketing achievements after their T20 World Cup victory last year.