India’s Blind Women’s Team Make History — and Open the Field for Every Child

On a bright afternoon in Colombo, with the small jingling ball cutting through the air, India’s blind women’s cricket team finished what they started: an unbeaten march to the trophy in the inaugural Women’s T20 World Cup for the Blind. They kept Nepal to 114/5 and chased the target in 12.1 overs — 117/3 — a clinical, confident performance capped by Phula Soren’s 44 off 27 that took the tension out of the chase and earned her the match spotlight. The scoreboard says “champions”; the story behind it says something much bigger.

Image Courtesy: AFP

What the stat line really means

Numbers are tidy — but here they stand for grit. India went unbeaten through a tournament played across New Delhi, Bengaluru and Colombo, beating strong sides and showing consistency with bat, ball and fielding. Their bowlers restricted opponents repeatedly; their batters chased targets with calm and speed when it mattered. This wasn’t luck. It was preparation turned into execution.

Faces and stories you should know — real people, real struggle

Two names that already feel like national treasures:

• Deepika T.C. — captain. Deepika lost her sight early in life and learned cricket on local grounds; she grew through state-level tournaments (Karnataka) to captain the national side. Her leadership on the field — smart running, energetic fielding, and steady hand — has roots in a childhood of pushing past social doubts and finding confidence in sport.

• Phula Soren — vice-captain & final’s hero. Phula’s life reads like a resilience manual: born visually impaired in a small Odisha village, she lost her mother young, trained in a blind school, and practiced until sound and timing became her second sight. From dusty village nets to the world stage, she now inspires girls across rural India who once thought cricket was out of reach.

  
  

These are not “inspirational headlines” — they are lived journeys: poor families, limited facilities, teachers who spotted talent, and communities that slowly shifted from doubt to pride.

Who’s backing them — and where the gaps still are

This World Cup was organised by the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) with sponsorship help (the tournament had SBI as title sponsor) and support from a growing set of partners. CABI runs national calendars and camps and has been the central body organising blind cricket in India. The national reaction has been warm: ministers and public figures praised the team, and the ICC chair and BCCI officials met with CABI ahead of the event and pledged support.

That said — a long-running issue remains: institutional funding and formal recognition. Blind cricket historically depends on sponsorships, goodwill, state support and occasional grants. Players and leaders have often asked the BCCI and government bodies for formal affiliation, steady salaries, training infrastructure, and long-term contracts; while officials have promised interest and praise, we could not find a single, publicly announced dedicated BCCI budget line for blind cricket teams as of this win. The broader sports budget for 2025–26 has increased, which creates a chance to direct funds for inclusive sport programmes — but the fine print (who gets what and when) is still being written. In short: applause is abundant; structural money and guaranteed programs still need to follow.

Why this matters to kids (and to parents)

• Visibility changes belief. When a child in a small town watches Phula or Deepika on the news, “cricket” becomes an option, not a fantasy.

• Sport builds life skills. The players’ lives show that sport grows confidence, teamwork and independence — especially for children with disabilities who often face limited choices.

• Support matters. A parent buying a pair of gloves, a coach giving one extra hour in the nets, a school allowing a child to practice — these small choices add up to careers and to changed lives.

A simple call to action — for kids, parents and sports administrators

Kids: pick up the bat, feel the sound of the ball, and try. Cricket for the blind proves sport is about senses, spirit and will — not just eyesight. Practice, play with friends, and don’t wait for someone to “allow” you. Parents: encourage the try. The gear is less important than the go-ahead you give. Let kids play. Support their practice. Celebrate small wins. Planners & sports bodies: the win is a moment. Convert praise into sustained budgets, coaching centres, jobs for athletes, and school-level programmes so every talent has a path.

The field is open for you

The Indian Blind Women’s Team didn’t just win a trophy — they opened a pathway. Their victory shows that cricket belongs to everyone: to girls and boys, to children with and without disabilities, to anyone willing to listen for the ball, chase it, and grow with the game.

At our academy, we see this win as a reminder of why sport matters. Every champion — sighted or blind or physically challenged — started out the same way: one practice session, one coach’s encouragement, one family’s belief. Deepika T.C. and Phula Soren didn’t reach the world stage overnight. Their journey began on open grounds, small schools, and makeshift pitches, long before TV cameras ever arrived. What carried them forward was commitment, not perfect conditions.

For every young player reading this, your story can begin today. Pick up the bat. Feel the ball. Step into the nets with curiosity, not fear. Cricket is a game that rewards effort, resilience and heart — the very qualities these world champions have shown us.

For parents, this win is a reminder that sport can transform a child’s confidence, discipline and identity. Your support — a ride to practice, a word of encouragement, a little patience on tough days — can shape futures in ways you may never fully see.

The Indian Blind Women’s team has shown the world that talent grows wherever opportunity is given. And at our academy, we are committed to offering that opportunity. The game is evolving, the doors are wider, and the next generation is already stepping up.