World Champion India’s Homecoming Delayed Due to Hurricanes in Barbados

India emerged as the T20 World Cup champion by beating South Africa on June 29 in Barbados. However, three days later, the Indian team found itself stranded in the Caribbean. Hurricane Beryl struck the Caribbean island on Monday morning, causing a delay in the return of the Indian team, their families, support staff, BCCI officials, and media personnel.

Originally, the T20 World Cup-winning team was scheduled to depart from Barbados on Monday. They had to take a flight to New York, from where they would take a flight to Dubai and then, finally, a direct flight to India. However, Hurricane Beryl disrupted their plan, and its intensification from Category 3 to Category 4 made the situation more dangerous.

Vimal Kumar, an Indian journalist who went to Barbados to cover the T20 World Cup, posted a video on Monday of the hurricane. The caption of the post reads, “The hurricane effect has started in Barbados where Team India is staying inside a five-star hotel. No chance of departure today as well.”

Seeing the worsening situation, the government of Barbados imposed a lockdown on Sunday. However, the weather now seems to be getting better, and the Indian team is set to leave the Caribbean on Tuesday at 6 PM Barbados time, which is 3:30 AM on Wednesday Indian time. The Indian team is expected to arrive in Delhi by 7:35 PM on July 3, Wednesday.

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Renowned sports journalist Vikrant Gupta informed the public of the good news via his X handle. “Good news. The Indian team will finally fly out of Barbados on a special flight arranged by BCCI on Tuesday at 6 PM local time. They are expected to land in Delhi around 7:45 PM on Wednesday,” tweeted Vikrant Gupta.