The jubilant Indian cricket team, fresh off their T20 World Cup victory, will finally return home on Tuesday night (IST) after being stranded in Barbados due to Hurricane Beryl.
Narrow window for departure
The Category 4 hurricane forced the island nation to shut down its airport, leaving the team and their entourage in limbo for the past two days.
However, there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley expects the airport to be operational within the next 6 to 12 hours, creating a narrow window for the team’s departure.
Direct flight to Delhi being arranged
The initial plan involved a layover in the United States. However, due to the delay, the BCCI is exploring a direct charter flight to Delhi.
This option presents a challenge – finding a charter aircraft in the Caribbean large enough to accommodate the nearly 70-member Indian contingent. News reports suggest the BCCI may need to fly in a suitable charter aircraft from the US.
Felicitation awaits for India Cricket Team
If all goes according to plan, the team will depart Bridgetown by 6 pm local time and land in Delhi by 7:45 pm IST on Wednesday.
A grand felicitation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on the cards, though the details remain to be confirmed.
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Hurricane Beryl caused minimal damage
While the situation could have been much worse, Hurricane Beryl thankfully passed 80 miles south of Barbados, minimizing damage on land. “Life-threatening winds and storms” lashed the island, forcing a lockdown since Sunday evening. Thankfully, there were no reports of casualties.
Looking forward, Back Home from Barbados
Prime Minister Mottley acknowledged the inconvenience caused to the Indian team but expressed hope that their World Cup victory will keep their spirits high. “I’m sure they’ll be floating on air for a little while,” she quipped.
With the airport reopening imminent, cricket fans across India can finally breathe a sigh of relief and prepare to celebrate the triumphant return of their World Cup heroes.
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