‘A cap, a mask, and a full-sleeved t-shirt’: Shivam Dube travels incognito by train after World Cup win

India’s Twenty20 World Cup hero Shivam Dube tried to return home quietly after the title-winning campaign by taking a train in disguise from Ahmedabad to Mumbai, but his attempt to remain incognito was nearly foiled when a ticket-checker loudly asked if he was the famous cricketer.

India defeated New Zealand in the final in Ahmedabad on Sunday to win the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, becoming the first team to win three men’s T20 World Cup titles.

Dube wanted to return home soon after the victory to be with his four-year-old son and two-year-old daughter.

With all flights to Mumbai fully booked on Monday, the 32-year-old all-rounder chose to travel by train along with his wife Anjum and a friend despite the risk of being recognised.

"There was no flight available, so I decided to take a train from Ahmedabad early in the morning to Mumbai," the all-rounder told the Indian Express newspaper. "I wore a cap, a mask, and a full-sleeved t-shirt."

How did Shivam Dube try to stay incognito during his train journey?

His companions boarded first while Dube slipped on at the last moment, headed to his coach and climbed to the top berth in the hope of enjoying a quiet eight-hour journey.

The plan almost unraveled when the ticket-checker entered the compartment and loudly asked whether the Shivam Dube among the passengers was the cricketer. Dube feared he would be recognised, but his wife quickly intervened.

"No, no. How can he be here?" Anjum said.

Dube eventually sought police help before disembarking in Mumbai.

"They thought I was landing at the airport, but were surprised when I told them that I was travelling by train," he told the paper.

On Tuesday, Devendra Fadnavis felicitated Dube and Suryakumar Yadav, members of the World Cup-winning Indian side, at his official residence in Mumbai following the team’s triumphant campaign.

Suryakumar, who captained the Indian side during the tournament, and all-rounder Dube met the Chief Minister and were honoured for their contribution to the team’s successful title defence.

Fadnavis congratulated the two cricketers and praised their role in bringing glory to the country.

(With inputs from ANI)