Midnight celebrations across state as India lift second T20 WC

Bhubaneswar: Streets of the capital city and other parts of the state erupted in celebrations, with lovers chanting “India... India...” at clubs and every corner as the ‘men in blue’ clinched the ICC T20 Men’s Cricket World Cup for the second time on Sunday.
Even the downpour, that lashed the city last night, couldn’t dampen the spirits of fans, who hit the streets to celebrate the victory.The celebrations continued late into the night, despite police patrolling. The moment the last ball of the final over was bowled, and it was clear that India had clinched the win, the sound of firecrackers and slogans filled the air.
“It is indeed a moment of joy and pride and India is lifting the World Cup. It was a great match and a great final. The pendulum was swinging throughout the match but at last, the victory arrived for our team,” Sahadev Das, a cricket lover, said.
Congratulatory messages poured in from all quarters, with chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi taking to X to express his pride and happiness. He said the cricket team had made 140 crore Indians proud and happy with their outstanding performance.
Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik also joined in the celebrations by creating a 20-ft-long cricket bat using sand and 500 cricket balls on the Puri beach. “The victory is a testament to the hard work, dedication and talent of the Indian cricket team. The players have shown exceptional skill, teamwork, and sportsmanship throughout the tournament, and their efforts have paid off in the form of this historic win,” Sudarsan said.
As the celebrations continued, it is clear that cricket is not just a sport in India; it is a passion that unites the entire nation. The love and support that the fans have shown for the team is a reflection of the spirit of India, where people from all walks of life come together to celebrate.
“It is a great team. The victory is phenomenal. There is a little sadness that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, two of the greats, retired from T20Is. It is now the young lads who will take forward their legacy and it will be a treat to watch them too,” Biranchi Hota, cricket coach of a private club, said.