Subhechcha Ganguly 
India’s historic victory in the 2023 ICC Champions Trophy, their second consecutive ICC title, has created a buzz across the nation, but fans hoping for a grand open bus parade similar to past celebrations will be disappointed. Unlike the iconic scenes after India’s T20 World Cup win in 2007 and the 2011 World Cup triumph, there will be no bus parade for the victorious team this time around.
After winning the Champions Trophy on March 9 by defeating New Zealand in the final in Dubai, Rohit Sharma’s team became the first Indian side to secure two ICC titles in consecutive years. However, the celebrations are expected to be subdued, as the cricketers are returning to their respective cities separately.
Rohit Sharma and all-rounder Hardik Pandya were greeted with a hero’s welcome at Mumbai airport on Monday night. Meanwhile, head coach Gautam Gambhir and fast bowler Harshit Rana arrived in New Delhi, and star batter Virat Kohli is expected to reach soon.
The decision to forgo the bus parade stems from the players’ commitments to their IPL franchises, with the 2025 IPL season set to kick off on March 22. With limited time before their next big commitment, the players are expected to dive straight into training and preparation for the upcoming T20 tournament, leaving them little time for post-victory celebrations.
It is worth noting that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had not held any bus parade after India’s 2013 Champions Trophy victory under MS Dhoni’s captaincy, and such parades have traditionally been reserved only after India’s World Cup triumphs on foreign soil.
