MUMBAI, March 25: The Indian team returned home on Tuesday to a grand welcome despite their big defeat by Australia in the World Cup final.

Thousands of cricket-crazy fans, who normally slam the team after any loss and often vent their anger with street demonstrations, flocked instead to Mumbai airport early in the morning waving national flags and chanting, “Long live India.”

The loudest cheers were reserved for local hero Sachin Tendulkar, who was voted Man-of-the-Tournament after scoring 673 runs in 11 matches.

“Our team gave a tremendous performance and has done the country proud,” Jagmohan Dalmiya, president of the BCCI, told reporters.

“They played to their full potential and entered the final in a majestic way. Yes, we haven’t won but on that day probably Australia were the better team on the field.”

India won nine of their 11 matches in the tournament, including a celebrated victory over Pakistan.—Reuters