BCCI to arrange charter plane to evacuate T20 World Cup Champions India from hurricane-hit Barbados

T20 World Cup 2024 champions Team India are stranded in Barbados after Hurricane Beryl has disrupted their plans of returning back home. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is making arrangements to bring the contingent back on a charter plane once the airport resumes functioning.

Rohit Sharma and Co. will have to wait for at least another day in Barbados after Hurricane Beryl made its landfall in Grenada on Monday, July 1. The Indian players and support staff are not alone in the Caribbean as BCCI top brass, including secretary Jay Shah is also stranded amid the hurricane. They have all been staying indoors at the team hotel after the local government issued flood and storm warnings in the Caribbean islands.

After beating South Africa by seven runs to win their second T20 World Cup 2024 title on Saturday, June 29, it was expected that Team India would leave for home on Monday. However, after the Grantley Adams International Airport was shut down until further notice on Sunday, the BCCI had to devise the most convenient way to bring the contingent back to India. The Category 4 hurricane was expected to affect St Vincent and Grenada the most while Hurricane warnings were in effect in Barbados and Tobago as well. The Barbados airport is expected to remain shut for at least the next 14 hours.

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According to India Today, Barbados seems to have been spared from the worst impact of Hurricane Beryl (as of Monday morning local time). While strong winds lashed the island on Monday, water and electricity supply was not affected at least in the team hotel until Monday morning.

Team India to leave Barbados on July 2

The Men in Blue are set to leave Barbados on July 2, in the latest update. The team is now all set to leave Barbados on Tuesday at 6 pm Barbados time. This will be approximately 3:30 am on Wednesday morning in IST. The team is expected to land in Delhi by 7:45 pm on July 3, Wednesday.

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"Good news. The Indian team to finally fly out of Barbados on a special flight arranged by BCCI Tuesday 6pm local time. To land in Delhi around 7.45 pm Wednesday," tweeted Vikrant Gupta.

The Delhi airport is going to be buzzing on Wednesday as several fans are expected to come and greet the champion players. India managed to end their 11-year-long wait for an ICC title and as a result of it, the euphoria among their fans is at an all-time high.