Rohit Sharma’s T20 World Cup-winning squad will be greeted with a grand reception on arrival in New Delhi on Thursday morning.

The triumphant players and support staff are expected to touch down in New Delhi around 6am after departing from Barbados’ Grantley Adams International Airport on Tuesday evening, on a chartered flight with a special call sign — AIC24WC — Air India Champions 24 World Cup.

Their departure was delayed due to Hurricane Beryl which hit Bridgetown on Sunday, a day after India defeated South Africa in the T20 World Cup final by seven runs. The airport was closed for more than 24 hours leading to flight cancellations and throwing all travel plans into disarray.

The Board brass, including president Roger Binny, secretary Jay Shah and IPL chair Arun Dhumal, are also on the same aircraft.

“The team will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 11am at his residence. After this, the team will fly to Mumbai, where a ceremony has been organised,” Board vice-president Rajeev Shukla was quoted as saying in New Delhi.

From Delhi, the team will travel to Mumbai on a special flight at 2pm and then go on an open-top bus parade from the National Centre for Performing Arts at Nariman Point to the iconic Wankhede Stadium 2km away.

Considering the players will be physically and mentally exhausted, the Board has decided to keep the victory parade short.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s 2007 World Cup-winning squad had been accorded a similar reception and the Board wants this one also to be remembered for long.

At a felicitation at the Wankhede, Shah will hand over the Rs 125 crore prize money to the team.