- Global coral bleaching event biggest on record: US agency
- UK activist jailed for dyeing fountain outside Buckingham Palace red
- Relief, anxiety in Israel after Sinwar's killing
- Wawrinka, 39, ousts top seed Rublev to reach Stockholm semis
- Harris, Trump descend on Michigan amid blockbuster early voting
- West Indies' Dottin restricts New Zealand to 128-9 in World Cup semi
- Sinwar's killing boosts Netanyahu but still no sign of war ending
- High court throws Kenya deputy president replacement into disarray
- Father of One Direction star Payne arrives in Argentina
- Guardiola says 'part of me will leave' when Begiristain quits Man City
- 'Timebomb' ship highlights hazard of dangerous cargoes
- France charges SUV driver with murder for running over cyclist
- Ex-Fulham Ladies captain Ronnie Gibbons 'groped' by Al-Fayed
- Italy judges reject first migrant detentions in Albania
- What next for Hamas after Sinwar's killing?
- Postecoglou urges inconsistent Spurs to change perceptions
- UN force says 'widespread destruction' in south Lebanon
- New Zealand on America's Cup cusp after double triumph
- New Zealand's Ravindra makes father proud with 'special' Test ton
- Stock markets mixed as investors weigh earnings, China GDP
- Ten Hag slams 'fairy tales and lies' as Man Utd boss comes out fighting
- Hamas mourns Sinwar, vows no hostage release until war ends
- Forest boss Nuno hit with three-game ban
- 'The killings continue': Sinwar death brings no respite for Gazans
- Gaza 'hell on Earth' for one million children: UN
- Maresca 'very happy' with start of Chelsea career
- New Zealand extends America's Cup lead on Britain
- England boss Tuchel deserves unconditional support: Guardiola
- P&G profits dip, says China recovery will take time
- India fight back after Ravindra ton cements New Zealand lead
- US regulator probes Tesla's self-driving mode after crashes
- Four-month-old baby dies as migrant boat sinks off France
- Kenya parliament backs Ruto's nominated new deputy
- Israel strikes Gaza after killing Hamas chief Sinwar
- Mbappe 'seems unaffected' by rape investigation reports: Ancelotti
- N Korea sending 'large-scale' troop deployment to Russia, Seoul spy agency says
- Global stock markets rise on China hopes
- Lebanon slams 'blatant interference' over remarks attributed to Iran official
- Odegaard nearing Arsenal return, says Arteta
- Women priests secretly ordained in the shadow of the Vatican
- Stellantis workers march in Italy over production slump
- Win over England a 'relief' but doesn't fix Pakistan woes, says Masood
- Howe says he was not contacted by FA over England job
- Biden in Berlin vows no let-up on support for Ukraine
- Meta unveils AI tie-up with horror movie producers
- King Charles arrives in Australia for landmark tour
- Stokes sorry for frustration over dropped catches in England loss
- Baby dies, 65 rescued as migrant boat sinks off France
- Slot warns against snap judgements as Liverpool brace for tough week
- Angry Macron blasts media over reporting of Israel comments
RBGPF | 0.69% | 60.92 | $ | |
RYCEF | -0.14% | 7.34 | $ | |
SCS | -1.5% | 13.015 | $ | |
CMSC | 0.1% | 24.815 | $ | |
RIO | 0.7% | 65.55 | $ | |
AZN | 0.13% | 78.12 | $ | |
NGG | 1.09% | 67.93 | $ | |
GSK | -0.75% | 38.67 | $ | |
BTI | -2.45% | 34.525 | $ | |
VOD | 0.26% | 9.755 | $ | |
RELX | -0.82% | 48.195 | $ | |
BCC | 0.11% | 142.35 | $ | |
JRI | 0.45% | 13.21 | $ | |
BP | -0.13% | 31.28 | $ | |
BCE | 0.16% | 33.545 | $ | |
CMSD | 0.32% | 25.1 | $ |
Fan frenzy as World Cup winners India finally return home
India's T20 World Cup winners returned home to a heroes' welcome on Thursday with skipper Rohit Sharma and his players hailed by euphoric fans jostling to glimpse their stars.
Frenzied crowds shouted "India, India" after they landed in New Delhi from the Caribbean, having been delayed for days by Hurricane Beryl.
Whistles and wild cheers greeted the players as they walked out from the arrivals area with gold medals around their necks, some giving a thumbs-up to their fans.
"This is surreal, watching my team with the World Cup," emotional fan Rohit Khanna told AFP.
"I saw the 2011 triumph, but this is a moment I will never forget."
Despite monsoon rain, crowds gathered outside New Delhi's airport long before dawn, waiting for a glimpse of their idols, who had beaten South Africa on Saturday in a thrilling final in Barbados.
"It's home," India's cricket board said on social media.
It was vice-captain Hardik Pandya who emerged first wearing a Caribbean hat, and the crowd erupted when captain Rohit came out carrying the glittering trophy, which he hoisted into the air.
Star batsman Virat Kohli, whose hometown is Delhi, was given some of the loudest cheers as he waved to hundreds of fans.
"It's a dream for me to witness India return home from a World Cup," said a shirtless fan with a Kohli tattoo emblazoned on his chest.
The team are due to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi later on Thursday, before flying to Mumbai for a victory parade in the heart of India's financial capital later in the day.
They eventually left the airport in buses, flanked by a long escort of police cars with wailing sirens.
Last weekend's win ended an 11-year global cricket trophy drought for India following their 2013 Champions Trophy win.
Their last World Cup victory was at home in the 2011 50-over edition under the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
One fan held up a poster of coach Rahul Dravid. "Thank you, Mr Dependable", it read.
The final was the last match in charge for Dravid, 51, who was bounced in the air by the team during the post-match celebrations.
Rohit, Kohli and allrounder Ravindra Jadeja all announced their retirement from T20 international cricket after the final.
Plane tracking website, Flightradar24, said the special Air India charter had been the "most tracked flight for much of the last 15 hours", as excited fans followed their team's journey back from the Caribbean.
B.Finley--AMWN