In a historic moment for Indian cricket, the national blind women’s team clinched the first-ever Blind Women’s T20 World Cup, defeating Nepal by seven wickets in a commanding performance at Colombo’s P Sara Oval on Sunday. India completed the tournament undefeated, showcasing dominance, discipline, and exceptional teamwork throughout the six-team event.
A Clinical Chase Seals the Title
Chasing Nepal’s total of 114/5, India made light work of the target, finishing at 117/3 in just 12 overs.
Phula Saren anchored the chase, remaining unbeaten on 44 and guiding the innings with composure and sharp coordination. With clean hitting, steady communication, and swift running between the wickets, the Indian side wrapped up the victory well before the final overs.
Captain Deepika TC called the triumph “the biggest moment of my and my team’s life.”
India’s Bowling Brilliance Set the Tone
Opting to bowl first, India put immediate pressure on Nepal:
Nepal managed just one boundary in their entire innings.
India’s bowlers stuck to disciplined underarm lines.
Tight field placements ensured Nepal never got momentum.
This tactical precision restricted Nepal’s scoring options and forced them to rely solely on singles.
Support From Indian Stars Fueled the Team’s Spirit
Ahead of the final, the Indian camp received messages of encouragement from:
Jemimah Rodrigues – Women’s World Cup winner
Shubman Gill – India’s Test captain
Deepika said these messages meant a lot to the squad and lifted their morale before the title clash.
Road to the Final
India entered the final after defeating Australia in the first semifinal.
Nepal reached the summit clash by beating Pakistan.
Sri Lanka, the co-hosts, secured just one victory in the league stage, while the USA finished without a win.
India became the first team to qualify for the knockouts, winning all five of their group-stage matches convincingly.
Understanding Blind Cricket: A Sport of Sound, Skill & Awareness
Blind cricket is played with specialised rules:
The ball is a plastic sphere fitted with metal bearings to create sound.
Players are classified as B1 (fully blind), B2, and B3 (partially sighted).
Teams must include a mix of these categories.
The ball must be bowled underarm along the ground.
B1 batters use runners, and each run scored by a B1 player counts as two.
Success in blind cricket relies on auditory cues, spatial memory, reflexes, and seamless teamwork—skills India mastered through years of training and perseverance.
Stories of Courage Behind the Victory
Deepika TC – From Rural Karnataka to World Champion
Deepika, who lost her vision as a baby, grew up in a farming family. She discovered cricket in a specialised school, where teachers pushed her to explore sports. Cricket gave her confidence and direction—qualities she carried into leading India to their first world title.
Ganga Kadam – Inspiring Girls Across Maharashtra
Vice-captain Ganga Kadam came from a large family in rural Maharashtra. Enrolled in a school for the blind for a better future, she was introduced to cricket by a dedicated coach. Mastering sound-based orientation took time, but her perseverance now inspires countless visually impaired girls back home.
A Historic Month for Indian Women’s Cricket
This victory comes just weeks after the sighted Indian women’s team lifted their World Cup in Navi Mumbai. Deepika had said her team wanted to “make it a double” for India — a dream they realized in stunning fashion.
🇮🇳 A Triumph of Skill, Heart & Resilience
India returns home with the first-ever Blind Women’s T20 World Cup trophy — a symbol not just of sporting excellence, but of personal triumph, representation, and hope for thousands of visually impaired athletes across the country.
This win is more than a medal.
It is a landmark moment in the journey of India’s blind cricket, women’s sports, and inclusive sporting culture.
