The Indian cricket team will not hold the traditional open-top bus parade following their Champions Trophy victory in Dubai. Celebrations have also been scaled down for a specific reason—the much-anticipated parade and festivities are being skipped to allow the players a well-deserved break and time to prepare for the upcoming IPL, set to begin on March 22.
Captain Rohit Sharma played a crucial role in India’s four-wicket win over New Zealand. Pre-season camps for IPL franchises like Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad have already started.
Following their Champions Trophy triumph in Dubai, the Indian cricket team will soon depart for different cities, making an open-top bus parade unlikely—a stark contrast to the grand celebrations after last year’s T20 World Cup victory. With the Indian Premier League (IPL) kicking off on March 22, the players are expected to take a brief break with their families before joining their respective franchises for the tournament.
Various reports suggest that the training camps for all 10 franchises are underway, and players are joining their teams. It’s uncertain as to when and how the players who were part of Team India’s squad for the ICC Champions Trophy will start the preparations for IPL 2025.
Training Camps Started For IPL
Mumbai Indians, featuring Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya, kicked off their pre-tournament practice sessions at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad, which includes Mohammed Shami, had already begun their pre-season camp earlier this month. According to news agency IANS, India head coach Gautam Gambhir is expected to arrive at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi on Monday evening. This Suggest that he won’t travel with the team. In fact, due to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season starting on March 22, all the players will travel separately as well.
India’s 12-Year Wait
India ended their 12-year wait for a victory in a major 50-over tournament, there isn’t enough time between competitions for the BCCI and the players to plan grand celebrations. After their T20 World Cup win in the USA and the Caribbean, the Indian team had celebrated with fans at Marine Drive and Wankhede Stadium. However, after their Champions Trophy win in Dubai, there is little time for similar festivities. Additionally, Indian spinners dominated under the bright sun at the Dubai International Stadium, taking five wickets and restricting New Zealand to a total of 251/7.
Rohit Sharma top-scored with an explosive 76 off 83 balls while KL Rahul stayed clam with an unbeaten 34 as India won by four wickets to clinch the 2025 Champions Trophy.