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India's blind women cricketers break barriers in inaugural T20 World Cup
The first-ever Blind Women's T20 Cricket World Cup has cast a spotlight on India's visually impaired female athletes, many of whom have defied societal and logistical hurdles to compete at the highest level. The 16-member Indian squad, drawn from nine states, reflects a journey of resilience, with players discovering the sport only in recent years through schools, NGOs, or local camps.
From rural roots to global stage
Hailing from farming families, small-town hostels, and villages, the players overcame initial resistance from families and teachers wary of their participation. Team manager Shika Shetty noted that language, cultural barriers, and even explaining blind cricket's rules posed early challenges. "Now they compete with pride," she said, highlighting the team's transformation.
The tournament, running from 11 November, began in Delhi before shifting to Bengaluru and now Colombo for the knockout stages. India dominated the round-robin phase, winning all five matches to become the first team to secure a semi-final berth.
Adapting to blind cricket's unique demands
Blind cricket employs a plastic ball embedded with metal bearings that jingle, allowing players-categorized as B1 (fully blind), B2, or B3-to track it aurally. Bowlers deliver the ball underarm along the ground, while B1 batters use runners for safety, with each run they score counting as two. Teams must field a mix of all three sight classifications.
Captain Deepika TC, who lost her sight in infancy after an accident, discovered cricket through specialized schools. Initially hesitant, she embraced the sport as a source of direction. "This is the biggest moment of my life," she said, drawing inspiration from India's sighted women's team, which won the T20 World Cup earlier this month in Navi Mumbai. "We want to make it a double."
"Supplies have stabilized, but conservation remains essential."
Deepika TC, Captain, Indian Blind Women's Cricket Team
Personal triumphs fuel team spirit
Vice-captain Ganga Kadam, one of nine siblings from Maharashtra, was enrolled in a blind school by her farmer father to secure her future. A mentor's push turned her casual play into a serious pursuit. "Trusting sound and timing was hard," the 26-year-old said, but her persistence now inspires girls in her village.
Anekha Devi, 20, a top-order batter from Jammu and Kashmir born partially blind, attended her first camp in Delhi at her uncle's urging. Overwhelmed by unfamiliar techniques, she adapted swiftly, earning a national spot within two years. "I want to be the role model I never had," she said.
Phula Saren, an 18-year-old all-rounder from Odisha's tribal belt, lost vision in one eye at age five and her mother soon after. A teacher introduced her to cricket, but convincing her family took time. Her breakthrough came not from trophies but from realizing she belonged at the national level.
Sunita Sarathe of Madhya Pradesh joined cricket later in life, after college and job explorations. Initially daunted by the sport's pace, she trained intensely to compensate for her "late" start and is now a key fielder.
A milestone for women's blind cricket
The World Blind Cricket Council (WBCC), headquartered in London, has governed the sport since 1996. While men's blind cricket boasts a longer history-with its first 50-over World Cup in 1998 and T20 debut in 2012-this tournament marks the first-ever women's edition.
India's women's blind cricket program is nascent. The Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI), founded in 2011, began systematic scouting for women only in 2019. Their first international match in 2023 was followed by a gold medal at the IBSA World Games in Birmingham.
"We were doing injustice by not giving visually impaired women the same opportunities as men. Creating this tournament took huge effort-money, teams, everything. But the response from governments, sponsors, and the public has been remarkable."
Mahantesh GK, Chairperson, CABI
Visibility and the road ahead
The semi-finals and final, scheduled for Sunday in Colombo, are streamed live on CABI's YouTube and India's Prasar Bharati platforms, with national broadcaster Doordarshan airing India's matches. The exposure is a watershed, said coach Shetty: "Families will now see this as a viable path for their daughters."
Mahantesh GK predicts rapid growth as more countries field women's teams. "The standard and global footprint will rise quickly," he said, emphasizing the tournament's role in normalizing blind women's cricket.
