In pictures: Heroes' welcome for Ajinkya Rahane and Indian team

History-makers: Members of the victorious Indian cricket team, which beat Australia 2-1 in the Test series against all odds, returned home after being on the road for nearly five months. Rohit Sharma, vice-captain for Tests who joined the team for the last two Tests after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained during the Indian Premier League, is hemmed in by security personnel as he comes out of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai on Thursday.

Ajinkya Rahane, who was a stirring force as the stand-in captain in place of Virat Kohli, being received at the Mumbai airport alongwith Head Coach Ravi Shastri.

Shardul Thakur (left), whose allround show with the bat and ball was a major surprise in the final Test at Brisbane, flashes the thumbs-up sign as he arrives at Mumbai International Airport after the Australia tour on Thursday.

Ajinkya Rahane acknowledges the fans and photographers as he gets into his car to head home on arrival at Mumbai airport on Thursday.

Prithvi Shaw, the young Indian opener, stops for the photographers as he leaves for home from the Mumbai airport.

Rahane, with his wife and daughter, being welcomed with a cake by cricket fans on reaching his residential complex in Mumbai on Thursday.