Team India won a historic victory by beating New Zealand in the Champions Trophy 2025 final, their first ICC ODI title since 2013. This win is 12 years after India’s last victory in the tournament in 2013. The tournament witnessed great performances from Captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami, and Varun Chakravarthy, among others.
Why No Bus Parade for Fans?
Despite the momentous occasion, no open-top bus parade has been planned for the Indian team’s return, disappointing many fans. Several key reasons have contributed to this decision:
Players Need Rest Before IPL 2025
With the IPL 2025 starting on March 22, players need a brief break before reporting to their respective franchises. Therefore, they are going straight to their hometowns from Dubai rather than gathering at one place for celebrations.
WPL 2025 Final Leg in Mumbai
As per news agency IANS, Mumbai, where the victory parade for the T20 World Cup 2024 was held, is busy with the last leg of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 at Brabourne Stadium. Security arrangements for both events would be challenging, rendering a parade impossible.
Players Leaving Individually
Several sources have confirmed that the majority of Indian team members will be arriving in India on Monday, March 10. But with players going straight to their homes, there is no chance of a joint celebration.
No Trophy Ceremony in India
Sources have revealed that no official trophy ceremony or celebration event has been organized in India. Players will instead get a short break before reporting to their IPL teams.
Even though there would not be a public reception in India, Team India received a warm welcome at their Dubai hotel, where staff and fans welcomed the champions. Also, Burj Khalifa celebrated the team by displaying their faces on the famous skyscraper.
A GRAND WELCOME OF TEAM INDIA AT THE HOTEL IN DUBAI. ???pic.twitter.com/b6lCMWtspj
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 9, 2025
Team India’s ICC Champions Trophy Victory shines bright on the Burj Khalifa, as Dubai celebrates the triumph that unites us all. ???✨
? IG/life_of_rohits#VisitDubai pic.twitter.com/WkUHfWaNFt— Visit Dubai IN (@VisitDubai_IN) March 10, 2025
Rohit Sharma Dismisses ODI Retirement Speculation
After winning the game, Rohit Sharma ended all speculation regarding his ODI retirement. “I am not going to retire from this (ODI) format. Going forward please don’t spread rumours,” Rohit said to the press after the final. His declaration was made mere moments after Ravindra Jadeja had stated his retirement from T20Is.
Will There Be a Party at Wankhede Stadium?
In Wankhede Stadium’s 50th anniversary celebration earlier this year, Rohit Sharma had vowed to take the Champions Trophy back to the historic stadium.
“We will try our best… I’m sure that the wishes of 140 crore Indians will be behind us when we land in Dubai for the Champions Trophy. We will try to do well and bring the Champions Trophy to the Wankhede Stadium,” had said Rohit.
But the official word hasn’t come so far on conducting a celebration programme at Wankhede in the wake of India’s success.
India’s Dominance in ICC Events
With this win, India has again proved its supremacy in international cricket, putting an end to more than a decade-long ODI title drought. Although fans might miss a victory parade, the team now turns its attention to IPL 2025, where the Champions Trophy stars will soon be in action.
