Ahmedabad, March 8 Suryakumar Yadav greeted the historic occasion in Indian cricket – an unprecedented third T20 World Cup title – with an almost unnervingly casual demeanor, a fleeting smile, and a brief hand clap.
If one were to observe this scene in isolation, it would be difficult to believe that India had just convincingly defeated New Zealand by 96 runs to defend their title on Sunday.
However, the atmosphere around the victorious team was chaotic.
Hardik Pandya buzzed around, Arshdeep Singh took the time to apologize to Daryl Mitchell for an accidental throw, Ishan Kishan embraced Axar Patel in a tearful hug, while a group of players surrounded Sanju Samson, who was later named Player of the Tournament, and Jasprit Bumrah, the Player of the Final.
Arshdeep shared some lighthearted moments while speaking to renowned commentator Harsha Bhogle, mentioning that he was trying to prepare some reels for his hugely popular Instagram account.
However, the most striking sight was the head coach Gautam Gambhir, a man known for concealing his emotions behind a stoic facade, who was seen smiling and celebrating with his team.
Gambhir was soon congratulated by his colleagues in the dugout, and a few players soon joined in the celebration.
On the other hand, the New Zealand players watched the jubilant celebrations in the middle with a hint of disappointment.
But as always, the Kiwis soon lined up to offer their customary handshakes to their Indian counterparts, who in turn embraced some New Zealand players who were their teammates in the IPL.
Soon, the wives, girlfriends, and parents of the cricketers descended upon the Narendra Modi Stadium, adding a familial touch to the occasion.
Suryakumar briefly joined his teammates for a celebratory jig before attending to his duties as captain, meeting with the match officials.
Throughout this, a large crowd of spectators kept chanting "Vande Mataram" in a loud, goosebump-raising crescendo.
The presence of former World Cup-winning captains Kapil Dev, MS Dhoni, and Rohit Sharma, along with ICC Chairman Jay Shah and India's Home Minister Amit Shah, added a certain gravitas to the occasion.
After the on-field celebrations, the players gathered on the podium to receive the ICC T20 World Cup, a testament to their month-long consistency and hard work.
They will wake up on Monday with the glittering trophy in their possession, but they will still be in a state of euphoria.
