The Organiser studio witnessed an atmosphere of pride, emotion, and quiet confidence as Bharat’s women’s blind cricket team walked in – fresh from scripting history by winning the T20 Blind Cricket World Cup 2025. Accompanied by officials of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI), their manager, support staff, and mentors, the team’s presence symbolised much more than a sporting triumph. It marked a shift in perception – of disability, of women’s sport, and of what leadership truly looks like.
Welcoming the team, Organiser Editor Prafulla Ketkar remarked how the familiar phrase “our daughters are no less than our sons” seemed to have taken on a new meaning. Today, it appeared that daughters had once again set the benchmark, this time on the global stage, while the boys prepared to follow suit in upcoming tournaments. Before that, however, it was time to celebrate the blind women cricketers who had brought the World Cup home.
Team captain Deepika TC spoke with visible emotion about arriving in Delhi after the World Cup victory and meeting the Prime Minister. For the players, this was not just another trip – it was the fulfilment of a dream they had quietly carried for years.
“For all of us, it was a dream to meet the Prime Minister, speak with him, and take a photograph,” she said. “Because of cricket, all of this became possible.”
“Inner Confidence Is The Real Victory”
Addressing the gathering, Shri Suresh Soni ji, Akhil Bharatiya Karyakarini Sadasya, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, congratulated the players for elevating Bharat’s name on the world stage through discipline and collective effort.
“If any success is to be achieved, it must be done together. And wherever there is collective effort, organisation becomes essential,” he said, noting the symbolic connection between the organising spirit behind the team and the magazine Organiser itself.
Shri Soni emphasised that the team’s achievement goes far beyond winning a trophy. “When a person faces any form of limitation in life, self-confidence often collapses. But your lives show that even after such obstacles, if one moves forward with resolve, success follows,” he said. He observed that the players have become a source of confidence not just for themselves, but for millions across the world who face some form of limitation. “Through your journey, you have instilled belief and self-confidence in countless people,” he added.
While highlighting cultural and spiritual examples, Shri Soni recalled a blind woman from Andhra Pradesh, Lakshmi Narayanamma, who once said, “I may not have eyes, but I have tears.” She later transcribed the entire Bhagavad Gita into Braille and earned recognition in the Guinness Book of Records.
He also connected the team’s victory with Bharat’s broader sporting success, noting that the country has won men’s, women’s, and now blind cricket World Cups. “This final step completes a larger national journey,” he observed.
Deepika TC credited Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled for its unwavering support and referred to Dr Mahantesh G. Kivadasannavar – Founder of Samarthanam and President of CABI – as a father figure to the entire team. “You have given us such a big life,” she told him, thanking him for creating opportunities that once seemed unimaginable.
The sense of pride was heightened by the Republic Day invitation extended to the team. “Being invited for the January 26 celebrations is a very proud moment for us,” Deepika said. “At such a young age, when such big dreams are coming true, it feels overwhelming.”
Yet success, she admitted, brings its own challenges. “Handling success is difficult. After winning, there have been interviews, travel, and constant movement. Just after finishing the Nationals, we came straight to Delhi. But we have received an opportunity, and we want to utilise it fully.”
From Invisibility to Identity
Team manager Shikha Shetty reflected on the transformation she had witnessed over the past few years. “The difference before and after the World Cup is huge,” she said. “When these girls first joined the Cricket Association for the Blind, nobody recognised them. They didn’t even have an identity.”
Shikha recalled how they were once reduced to labels – called “blind” or “andhe” – rather than being known by their names. “Today, it’s completely different. When they return to their villages, people are waiting for them. There are public receptions, open stages, and thousands of people
welcoming them.”
player from Assam
At airports, strangers ask for photographs. Names like Deepika are recognised instantly. “Each of these 16 girls has created her own identity,” Shikha said. “They are now role models for people who once believed that nothing was possible for them.”
Shikha emphasised that this recognition is not merely symbolic. It sends a powerful message to those struggling silently, especially women from marginalised backgrounds, that opportunity can change everything.
Shikha, who has worked with the cricket ecosystem for over a decade and with Samarthanam for many years, explained that the vision behind the team was never limited to the sport alone. “From day one, the focus was not only on the game,” she said. “It was about education, health, confidence, and
holistic development.”
This vision, she added, was rooted in Dr Mahantesh’s long-standing belief that sport is a tool for empowerment, not just competition. “This entire structure, CABI and Samarthanam, works like a strong foundation. Cricket becomes the medium through which dignity, discipline, and leadership are built.”
How Blind Cricket Took Shape
Dr Mahantesh traced the origins of blind cricket to his own childhood. Growing up in an era without television, he fell in love with the game through radio commentary. “I didn’t understand the words at first,” he recalled. “I was fascinated by the voice modulation of the commentators.”
Cricket, he explained, was uniquely suited to blind players because it is a sequential game. Everyone, blind or sighted, listened together. Over time, neighbours taught him how to hold the bat and bowl. Early versions of the game involved improvised equipment, plastic containers filled with pebbles, socks bundled into balls, and writing pads turned into bats.
The breakthrough came in 1989 when a sound-emitting cricket ball was developed in Bharat – a true game-changer. “That invention alone makes Bharat a pioneer in blind cricket,” he said, adding with a smile, “Yes, we are the pioneers, the leaders, and the winners.”
When Samarthanam was founded in 1997, promoting blind cricket became one of its prime objectives. At the time, the sport existed only at the school level, with no structured support beyond that. By 2010–11, Samarthanam took over full responsibility for blind cricket in Bharat, reviving a sport that was struggling not just nationally, but globally.
Organising the inaugural Women’s Blind Cricket World Cup was among the toughest challenges the organisation faced. Funding was uncertain even a month before the tournament. The decision to host matches at a neutral venue in Colombo, due to Pakistan’s participation, added logistical complexity.
“Running from pillar to post, sleepless nights, countless requests—that’s what it took,” Dr Mahantesh recalled. “But if you want to do something meaningful, a ‘never say die’ spirit is essential.”
The impact of the victory has been life-changing. Players are receiving job offers, financial support, and public recognition. Several state governments announced cash rewards. Assam and Karnataka took the lead, while Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reportedly gifted iPhones to the players. In another remarkable gesture, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan not only extended financial support but acted immediately when Deepika requested a road for her village – construction reportedly began the same day.
“These moments show the beauty of this country,” Dr Mahantesh said. “People come forward wholeheartedly.”
Blind cricket, as the team explained, is fundamentally different from the conventional game, even if it appears similar on television. A hard plastic ball with bearings inside produces sound, which guides players. Communication is constant – bowlers announce their delivery, fielders coordinate verbally, and wicketkeepers guide throws.
Teams are composed of players across three vision categories – B1 (completely blind), B2 (limited vision), and B3 (partial vision), with strict ratios maintained. Strategy, coordination, and trust are paramount. “You cannot play blind cricket alone,” one official noted. “All eleven players must function as one.”
Pressure, Laughter & Leadership
Vice-captain Ganga Kadam spoke candidly about the pressure of being part of a team following earlier World Cup victories by the men’s team. “Yes, there was pressure,” she admitted. “But we told ourselves – we will practice hard and give our best.” The team trained intensely for two months, supported by coaches, physiotherapists, and managers who often worked late into the night while players rested. “They worked harder than us,” Ganga said.
Deepika explained her approach as captain. “I reminded them of the sacrifices their parents made, the effort Samarthanam put in, and how winning could change our lives.” On the day of the final, nervousness was natural. It was Dr Mahantesh’s reassurance, “Relax, we will win,” that calmed her.
Changing Society’s Gaze
General Secretary Shailendra Yadav reflected on the larger impact of the victory. “This is not just about 16 blind girls,” he said. “They have drawn attention to the talent of blind people across Bharat- in education, corporate spaces, and beyond.”
He spoke of the compounded struggles many players faced: being blind, being women, coming from tribal regions, and often being raised by single mothers after fathers abandoned families due to disability-related stigma.
“These girls have shown what real struggle looks like,” he said. “They didn’t just lead blind daughters – they showed the strength of Bharatiya womenhood.”
