Bruised, battered and shaken -- words that aptly described the look on the faces of the men in blue when they landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi.

With a heavy security blanket thrown around them, India's fallen heroes sneaked home in the dark of night after their disastrous campaign in the cricket World Cup.

Unlike four years ago when they returned to a hero's welcome after reaching the final in South Africa, there was neither a huge fan gathering nor any Board official to receive the players.

Image: Security personnel stand guard outside the VIP arrival lounge before the cricketers arrive at the IGI airport in New Delhi on Thursday.
Reportage: PTI | Photographs: Getty Images

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