In the inaugural Blind Women’s T20 World Cup, a 16-member Indian squad is not just chasing a title—they are shattering barriers. Hailing from villages and small towns across nine states, these athletes have overcome familial resistance, societal doubts, and the immense challenge of mastering a sport through sound and touch to reach this historic stage.
The tournament, featuring India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, and the USA, represents a landmark moment for women’s blind cricket. For the Indian team, formed through systematic scouting only in 2019, their rapid ascent to a World Cup semi-final is a testament to their grit.
From Rural Roots to National Pride
“Most of the players are from rural backgrounds,” explained team manager Shika Shetty. “Language, culture, and reluctant families were huge barriers. But now they are all competing with pride.”
Their journeys are stories of resilience:
- Captain Deepika TC, who lost her sight as a baby, found direction and confidence through cricket after teachers at a specialized school encouraged her. Now, she aims to emulate the sighted women’s team’s recent World Cup victory.
- Vice-captain Ganga Kadam, from a family of nine, was enrolled in a school for the blind by her farmer father. She learned to trust sound and timing, and now inspires girls in her village.
- Anekha Devi from Jammu & Kashmir, encouraged by her visually impaired uncle, quickly mastered the audible ball system and now aims to be the role model she never had.
The Game of Sound
Blind cricket is a game of intense auditory focus. A plastic ball filled with metal bearings is bowled underarm and jingles as it moves. Players are classified as B1 (fully blind), B2, or B3 based on vision, and teams must field a mix of all three. B1 players bat with a runner for safety, with each of their runs counting double.
A Legacy in the Making
Despite a longer history for men’s blind cricket, this is the first-ever Women’s World Cup. The Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) spearheaded the effort. “We believed we were doing injustice by not giving visually impaired women the same opportunities as the men,” said CABI chairperson Mahantesh GK.
The future looks bright. With matches streamed live on YouTube and broadcast on national television, these athletes are becoming visible icons. As coach Shetty notes, “Now that people have watched these matches… families will feel more confident about allowing their daughters to play. It will not feel like an unknown path anymore.”
As the semi-finals and final commence in Colombo, the Indian team, already undefeated in the group stage, carries the hopes of a nation and the dreams of every visually impaired girl who now knows a path to the pitch exists.
By James Kisoo
