The Hindu Business Line : Dhoni first class all the way

The other members of the winning team returning home after winning the inaugural Twenty20 cricket world cup mostly traveled in business class except for Ajit Agarkar, Venkatesh Prasad and Harbhajan Singh who were cabin mates of the captain during the eight-hour flight between Johannesburg and Dubai. However, on the short hop between Dubai and Mumbai the three bowlers too joined their other 10 team members in business class.

But this did not spoil the party. No sooner had the Emirates airlines Boeing 777-300 aircraft taken off for Dubai that the captain made a special announcement on the public address system congratulating Captain M.S. Dhoni and team India on their win. Emirates Airlines is the official sponsor of the Twenty20 Cricket World Cup. This was followed by the captain and chief pursuer presenting a cake on board to Dhoni which was distributed throughout the team.

Probably moved by the special attention being lavished on them, the players decided to put their best foot forward. Sehwag picked up the headgear of one of the airhostess that had fallen on the ground and placed it back, while another player offered a rose to the cabin crew before stepping off the aircraft.

The celebrations had just begun with the Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr Praful Patel, the Maharashtra Chief Minister and his deputy, apart from a host of politicians cutting across party lines being at the aerobridge to welcome the team.

After being garlanded and clearing immigration, the team was shifted to a small room while last minute preparations were being made at the exit gate where drumbeats and tumultuous crowds were waiting to get a first dekho of the players.

Once outside the airport, the team boarded an open double-decker bus for the more than five-hour drive to Wankhede through pouring rain.