Mumbai’s iconic Marine Drive witnessed scenes of jubilation turn chaotic yesterday as Team India’s victory procession for the T20 World Cup descended into disorder.
The aftermath revealed a trail of damage, with reports of a broken pole, dented cars, and scattered footwear strewn across the area.
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Clad in blue jerseys and chanting patriotic slogans like ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ and ‘Vande Mataram,’ the crowd cheered fervently, but the sheer magnitude of the gathering led to overcrowding issues.
Amidst the throngs, scenes of distress unfolded as one woman fainted, apparently due to suffocation. A policeman was seen carrying her through the crowd in an attempt to reach safety.
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Eyewitnesses reported fans climbing atop cars, dancing in joy, inadvertently causing damage to vehicles.
A spectator caught in the crowd, recounted his experience, “It was chaotic. People were pushing to get closer to the Team India bus. I lost my slippers, headphones, and even my water bottle. Others lost phones and handbags in the frenzy.”
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Traffic in South Mumbai came to a standstill, with roads leading to Marine Drive jammed bumper to bumper. Police had to make announcements urging people to avoid the area, already overflowing with celebratory crowds.
Social media was abuzz with contrasting opinions following Team India’s grand celebrations for their T20 World Cup victory.
One user pointed out, “Australia wins the World Cup regularly. They play hard, win, and often return quietly without elaborate celebrations.”
Some people on social media felt that the big celebrations in India after winning the T20 World Cup showed how rare these victories are, not something that happens often.
Another person criticized the grand celebrations because India is very dominant in cricket and has a lot of money in the sport. They said the BCCI is much wealthier than other cricket boards. They also noted how cricketers are treated almost like gods in India, but this contrasts with the support given to other sports in the country.
Others pointed out that while cricketers receive massive celebrations, Olympic medalists like Neeraj Chopra don’t get similar public recognition. They questioned why there wasn’t a big parade or celebration for Olympic victories.
The celebrations culminated at Wankhede Stadium, where the victorious team was felicitated by BCCI officials with a hefty ₹125 crore check.
