The Indian men’s cricket team, celebrating their T20 World Cup victory, find themselves stranded in Barbados due to the aftermath of Category 4 Hurricane Beryl. The region faces extensive damage and disruption, with ongoing recovery efforts and a looming threat of more storm damage.
Indian Cricket Team Stranded in Barbados Due to Hurricane Beryl
The Indian men’s cricket team, fresh from their victory in the T20 World Cup 2024 final, has been stranded in Barbados due to the impact of Hurricane Beryl. The hurricane, which intensified to Category 4, hit the island early Monday morning, bringing high winds and significant storm surges. As a result, airports have been closed since Sunday evening, forcing the team’s charter flight to be delayed.
On Sunday, India managed to break a 12-year title drought, defeating South Africa in a thrilling final to claim their fourth T20 World Cup. However, travel plans were disrupted after officials evacuated 400 residents to hurricane shelters in anticipation of the storm.
Hurricane Beryl continued to wreak havoc, making landfall on Carriacou Island later on Monday morning with winds reaching 150 mph. This severe weather has left extensive damage across the Windward Islands, including uprooted trees and damaged rooftops. The storm is expected to weaken slightly but will remain a significant threat as it progresses across the Caribbean.
The cricket team’s situation mirrors the broader chaos in the region, with numerous reports of infrastructure damage and evacuations. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah commented, “Like you, we are also stuck here. After the travel plans are clear, we will think about the felicitation.”
Adding to the weekend’s events, both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli announced their retirement from the T20 format after the final. Sharma, 37, and Kohli, 35, leave as the top run-scorers in T20 internationals, each amassing over 4,000 runs. Kohli’s 76 from 59 balls was pivotal in India’s seven-run victory over South Africa.
The region remains under significant distress, with officials in several Caribbean islands enforcing controlled power outages and warning of more potential storm damage. The National Hurricane Center has forecasted additional heavy rain and continued high winds as Beryl moves westward.
In tropical cyclone preparedness, Barbados and nearby islands are experiencing major disruptions, and recovery efforts are ongoing. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts an active hurricane season, emphasizing the critical nature of preparedness in such regions.
