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South Africa and the West Indies` cricket teams are scheduled to leave India for their home on Tuesday after being stuck in the country due to the travel restrictions following the Middle East conflict.
According to reports, only West Indies` head coach Darren Sammy is expected to leave tonight via Singapore, and the rest of the squad will leave on Tuesday via a chartered flight.
On the other hand, South Africa`s squad will leave for Johannesburg from Kolkata. Three South African players, Keshav Maharaj, George Linde, and Jason Smith, have already left for New Zealand for the bilateral series.
The bilateral series includes five T20I matches, scheduled to start from March 15.
The change in travel plans was caused due to airspaces closer in West Asia.
Team India emerged victorious by 96 runs in the final of the T20 World Cup 2026 against New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Batting first in the final, the “Men in Blue” posted a mammoth total of 256 runs for the loss of five wickets in 20 overs. Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan smashed half-centuries. Facing 46 balls, Samson scored 89 runs with the help of five boundaries and eight maximums. Abhishek also garnered 52 runs in 21 balls, including six boundaries and three maximums. Ishan smashed 54 runs off 25 deliveries, laced with four boundaries and four maximums. Later, burly all-rounder Shivam Dube also played a fiery cameo of an unbeaten 26 runs in just eight deliveries.
Chasing a target of 256, New Zealand was bowled out for 159 runs in 19 overs. Team India`s lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah returned with figures of four for 15 in four overs. Hardik Pandya, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Abhishek also chipped in with one wicket each.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) also named its team of the tournament. South Africa`s Aiden Markram is named as the captain, and Team India`s Sanju Samson is named as the wicketkeeper-batsman in the team.
T20 World Cup 2026: ICC Men`s Team of the Tournament
Sahibzada Farhan, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan, Aiden Markram (C), Hardik Pandya, Will Jacks, Jason Holder, Jasprit Bumrah, Lungi Ngidi, Adil Rashid, Blessing Muzarabani, Shadley van Schalkwyk.
(With PTI Inputs)
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