It was an invasion of blue on the green turf of the iconic Eden Gardens here Sunday as Mumbai Indians smashed away to a 23-run victory over two-time winners Chennai Super Kings in the finals of the sixth edition of Indian Premier League.
Linking arms, the Mumbai "paltan" headed by Sachin Tendulkar broke through the barrier outlining the field to hug and embrace their team mates on the pitch.
It was an emotional moment for the iconic Tendulkar, who announced his retirement from the IPL, minutes after seeing his side claim their first ever league crown.
Tendulkar had to sit out in the dug-out as he failed to make it to the team owing to wrist and hand injuries.
Fireworks burst through the night sky in honour of the Mumbaikars as the team mates spilled on the field and broke into dance steps.
Harbhajan Singh, or Bhajji as he is affectionately called, took the lead by doing a round of Bhangra in front of TV cameras.
Waving flags of the squad, the entire Mumbai ensemble did a victory lap with Tendulkar being hoisted into the air by his ecstatic team mates.
Caribbean Kieron Pollard was seen shouldering skipper Rohit Sharma as the rest of the team thumped and congratulated the pair amid the Mumbai Indians theme song "Duniya Hila Denge Hum".
Bhajji graciously obliged fans with snaps.
-- Indo Asian News Service
sgh/ssp/pm
