Heroines get befitting welcome

It's past 3.30 am and the flight EK 500 from Dubai that was supposed to arrive an hour back has landed. But there is no sign of first batch of the Indian women's players coming out of the airport.

The huge crowd, with welcome banners in their hand, gathered to receive the ICC Women's World Cup runners-up is restless and every time they see a security guard coming out they scream and jump in joy.

A few Mumbai Cricket Association officials including its president Ashish Shelar and joint secretary Dr PV Shetty are seen with the garland waiting patiently for more than two hours. While some women form the frontline with a thali (plate) in their hands and they are to welcome the new heroes by applying tilak on the foreheads as they step out.

As time passes the crowd gets restless and among them are young and aspiring cricketers, who line up in a long queue to welcome their idols.

As the likes of Jhulan Goslwami, Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Shikha Pandey and Punam Raut walk out the fans, erupt in joy. The vociferous chants of "India, India" engulfs the P4 section of the Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport, Terminal 2.

The journey, a less than a minute walk to their awaiting bus, looks like a new challenge, after the final of the World Cup at the Lord's, for the cricketers as the media crew jump over each other to get a byte of the current sensations.

For the girls, the kind of reception is one of a kind experience. Captain Mithali Raj and veteran fast bowler Goswami would be able to tell the difference as they had returned home to almost no celebration after losing the World Cup final in 2005.

As the atmosphere is charged and a frenzy of sorts takes over, the cricketers appear tired after the journey and as only a few of them managed to sport a smile on their faces. Possibly they were too stunned to react.

Mumbai's Raut waves and smiles out to the crowd after entering the team bus. The Borivli cricketer says she is humbled by the reception.

"Bahut achcha laga (Felt very good). There was so much excitement when we came out of the airport. Did not expect this kind of reception. The girls played really well and deserved this. Thank you so much," she says.

Among the fans is a budding fast bowler Sushmita Avhad. "I am so excited and happy for them," says the 16-year-old, who has come along with her mother in the bus arranged by the MCA.

"It doesn't matter they lost the final, but they have inspired all of us. Their performances in England has given us hope and many girls are now taking the game seriously and have convinced our parents too," she says.

Sushmita's mother Anita encourages her daughter telling her not worry about the future. "Their performance is a message not just for the players but to parents as well. My daughter has always been a good cricketer and now I want her to play for India," she says.

MCA secretary Shetty said: "The Mumbai girls were keen to come to receive the cricketers and hence, we arranged buses from Shivaji Park and Virar. Such was the passion that they waited for the second batch to arrive till 9 am. It was an inspiring atmosphere."

Jayesh Kulkarni has been a Kanga League cricketer and is a coach too. He has come with his sister former India cricketer Sunetra Paranjpe to receive Raj and Co.

"These women have made us proud. All these years they did not get the kind of attention they deserve and in this World Cup, they proved that they are no less. I hope the achhe din (good days) begin for them now," he says.