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Kohli tears up, SKY soaks it in as Rohit Sharma-led Team India get a Mumbai Salaam

The 1.7-km drive from the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) to Wankhede Stadium, on a normal day, takes not more than seven minutes. Thursday’s procession took almost two hours, with the open-top bus carrying Team India snaking through the deluge of crowd that had gathered on the streets of South Mumbai.

When they finally arrived at Wankhede, at around 8.30 pm, it sent the fans who had been waiting impatiently for almost five hours into a delirium.

On a night of nostalgia, emotions and endless intimate celebrations, there were stories steeped in symbolism wherever you looked.

The party began with “King” Kohli leading “Mumbaicha Raja” Rohit to a dance to dhol beats. It ended with a poignant moment, with the two walking side-by-side with the trophy in their hands.

A little while ago, Kohli had walked past his teammates to the back of the bus, where Rohit sat by himself, savouring every moment. Grabbing him by the arm, Kohli urged Rohit to join him in the front. Once there, the duo — whose careers have been the subject of many dressing-room intrigues — high-fived, laughed and hoisted the trophy together.

For the heroes retiring from the T20 format, there could not have been a grander farewell.

This was also a moment of sweet redemption for Rohit. It isn’t a secret how much it hurt him not to be a part of the 2011 World Cup side that lifted the trophy on this ground. Indeed, he was a part of a similar parade in 2007 which also, like Thursday, culminated at Wankhede.