It looked more like a home win for England.
There were a group of fans wearing Collingwood t-shirts, a youngster with the Panesar label, people sporting the different English cricket jerseys and banana hats and also a kid with a fancy Manchester United Nistelrooy shirt that gave their cricket team a warm welcome once they reached the hotel.
Understandably, the security at the team hotel was beefed up as the Barmy Army and such other flocked the hotel. With security guards cordoning off the players, Monty Panesar's family, who were waiting in the lobby, couldn't meet their now-famous son till 15 minutes after he was secure in his room.
After the Ashes, this was yet another momentous occasion for England. It had been a tiring tour, most players were playing international cricket in India for the first time and their three main players had returned home even before the tour began.
But England fought it off. They didn't go out and 'embrace the culture' as Australia did on their previous tours, but showed tremendous focus and perseverance to win the third and final Test by 212 runs in Mumbai and level the series 1-1.
It was a huge burden off the team, who were yet to perform in sub-continent conditions.
The celebrations were just beginning when the England players, flanked by their wives and girlfriends, gathered down in the Taj Mahal hotel lobby and walked off by the Gateway of India.
No longer having his hair to make a style statement, Kevin Pietersen stood out from his conventionally dressed teammates as he sported a worn out, shaded sleeveless shirt.
After innumerable requests for pictures and autographs by the English fans (proving as enthusiastic and star-struck like their Indian counterparts) they, along with the cartons of beer, were ushered into the smaller ferries.
The England team was then expected to be taken to a cruise to attend a party hosted by Raymond chairman and managing director Gautam Singhania.
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The Ashes hangover done with, England can now drink themselves crazy over the Mumbai win.
"I know what they looked like after the Ashes. I wouldn't want to meet them now," said New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns. "It is a big win for them."
Cairns is in the city to launch The Chris Cairns Foundation, which in association with the NGO Pratham, aims to work with and provide education to needy children in India.
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