Currently partying in Barbados after winning the 2024 T20 World Cup, Rohit Sharma’s Indian Cricket Team could get stuck there indefinitely. Team India were supposed to leave on Monday, but due to Hurricane Beryl heading towards Barbados, they might be unable to return to India as planned.
Hurricane Beryl heading Team India’s way
According to Team India’s schedule, they were supposed to leave for New York on Monday at 11 AM local time (8:30 PM IST). From there, the Men in Blue are supposed to reach home via a connected flight from Dubai to Mumbai. However, this might not be possible, as Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, in a public address, warned that the airport would close by nighttime on Sunday.
This means neither a plane can land nor leave Grantley Adams International Airport. Hearing what’s heading towards them, a special chartered flight has been arranged for the Indian team, which will take them from Barbados to New Delhi directly. Whether they can board that flight or not in time is in question. But if they can’t, they might get stuck in Barbados for 36 to 48 hours in inclement weather.
Midnight on Sunday or early morning on Monday is when the hurricane is expected to arrive in Barbados. What’s even worse is that the hotel Team India’s staying at (the Hilton) is also situated near the ocean and could very likely come under the attack of the Grade 3 hurricane. If they are stuck on the island, they might need to relocate to a safer location and brace for the impact. To remind you, the Indian contingent of 70 people includes players and their families, officials, and support staff.