Captain Deepika TC leads India to historic triumph over Nepal in Colombo final; tournament celebrates women’s empowerment and accessibility in sports
Blind women from India won the world’s first T20 cricket championship in Sri Lanka on Sunday, following a tournament seen as pushing the limits of the visually impaired. India defeated Nepal by seven wickets in the title decider to win their first-ever Blind Women’s T20 World Cup in Colombo, chasing down the 115-run target in just 12 overs.
The historic victory marks another watershed moment for Indian women’s cricket, coming just weeks after the national women’s team lifted their first ODI World Cup. India scripted history as they won the inaugural edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup for the Blind, putting on an exceptional performance and going undefeated throughout the tournament to claim the title.
Dominant Final Performance Seals Historic Title
After opting to field first, Indian bowlers displayed a brilliant show with the ball, bowling tight lines and limiting Nepal to 114/5 in 20 overs. The disciplined bowling attack set the foundation for what would become a comfortable chase in the final at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium, Sri Lanka’s oldest Test ground.
While chasing, the Indian batters reached 100 runs in the first 10 overs, ensuring there was no more threat, with opener Phula Saren playing a match-winning knock, scoring 44 runs off 27 balls, including four boundaries. Her innings brought India to chase down the target in the 13th over, sealing the title, while Karuna K also contributed with a 27-ball 42. Saren’s magnificent performance earned her the Player of the Match award.
Nepal has become the first runner-up in the first Blind Women’s T20 World Cup, losing to India in the final match held at Colombo today, with India chasing the 115-run victory target set by Nepal in 12 overs. For Nepal, Sarita Ghimire scored 35 from 38 deliveries in a valiant effort.
Captain Deepika TC’s Inspiring Leadership
Following the historic victory, captain Deepika TC expressed immense pride in the team’s achievement, emphasizing the collective hard work that went into securing the title. “We are very proud and it is a huge win. Our entire team worked very hard. It is a very strong team and other teams are afraid of playing with us. We are even ready to play with the men’s team,” Deepika TC said after winning the match.
Throughout the tournament, Deepika led from the front with exceptional batting performances. Against Australia in the group stage, skipper Deepika TC scored 91 off 58 balls, falling just 9 runs short of her well-deserved century. In the high-voltage clash against Pakistan, Deepika ignited the chase with a stunning 45 off just 21 balls, striking at an astonishing 214.29, with her fearless stroke play and clean hitting electrifying the BOI Grounds.
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Unbeaten Campaign: A Journey of Dominance
In the T20 World Cup for the Blind, India delivered a stellar performance, remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament to clinch the title, beginning their campaign with a commanding victory over Sri Lanka. India won their first game of their campaign against Sri Lanka by 10 wickets.
Against Australia, India registered a 57-run win after the Aussies failed to chase down the 293-run target. The Australians suffered a slow over-rate penalty as a result, with 26 runs added to India’s total, setting Australia a revised target of 293 to win.
India then overcame Pakistan, successfully chasing 136 runs in just 10.2 overs. Anekha Devi took centre stage with a magnificent unbeaten 64 off 34 balls in a masterclass of timing, placement, and controlled aggression, maintaining a strike rate of 188.24.
In the semifinal, India thrashed Australia by nine wickets and capped off their campaign with a dominant win over Nepal to lift the trophy.
Understanding Blind Cricket: Rules and Format
Blind cricket uses a white plastic ball filled with ball bearings so players can hear it, and before bowling, the bowler must ask the batter if they are ready, then shout “play” and deliver the ball underarm with at least one bounce.
There are 11 players in this cricket match like other cricket matches, but at least four must be completely blind, classified as B1 players. Players are required to wear blindfolds for fairness, and fielders clap to indicate their positions on the field.
Others are partially sighted, classified by how far they can see—two metres for B2 players, six metres for B3 players. Each team can have up to eight totally blind players, and any run scored by a B1 player counts as two.
Tournament Format and Participating Nations
Nepal, India, Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the United States participated in the championship. The tournament was co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, bringing together the world’s best blind women cricketers for this groundbreaking competition.
Pakistan’s Mehreen Ali, a B3 player, was the standout batter of the tournament, while Sri Lanka, the co-host, won only one match in the group stage against the USA.
Breaking Barriers: Friendship Beyond Rivalry
India captain T.C. Deepika won more sporting admiration when she led her team to shake hands with the Pakistan players after winning a league match last week. This gesture stood in stark contrast to recent tensions between the nations’ sighted cricket teams.
Tensions off and on the field have been high since a deadly military clash between the nuclear-armed neighbours in May, with India’s men refusing to shake hands with their Pakistani opponents at the Asia Cup in September. India’s blind players were expected to mirror the conduct of their sighted teams, but both sides warmly greeted each other, a friendship that was seen throughout the tournament.
Young Voices: The Next Generation
Adeline Roe, 18, from South Australia said she was thrilled to be part of her nation’s first blind cricket team and to have the opportunity to travel and meet fellow sportswomen. “It’s amazing that we’ve got a blind women’s World Cup… It’s been a wonderful step forward for all women’s blind cricket,” Roe told AFP during the final between India and Nepal in Colombo.
For completely blind US player Meghan Whalen, 38, the challenge was also to explain to friends and family back home about her new sport, having learned about cricket by accident in April after attending a conference for the blind. “They were there doing a cricket demo and we got a chance to practice bowling and batting, and it was just really empowering and exciting,” Whalen told AFP, adding it was an opportunity to push, to be challenged, and to see what she was capable of.
High-Level Recognition and Support
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, who presented the trophy to India, thanked all players for helping raise the profile of the visually impaired. “This World Cup is more than just a competition. It is a collective statement about access, equity, and the growing participation of women in sport,” she said.
The Indian visually impaired women’s cricket team was warmly hosted by H.E. Santosh Jha, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, at India House his official residence in Colombo. During the interaction, the High Commissioner congratulated the players for their outstanding performance, praising their resilience, discipline, and exemplary sporting spirit, conveying to Deepika TC and the entire squad India’s pride in their achievement.
The tournament was chaired by Meenakshi Lekhi, a distinguished lawyer and social advocate widely recognized for her work in championing women’s rights and her longstanding commitment to women’s empowerment and social inclusion.
Organizational Excellence
The Cricket Association for the Blind in India is the apex body that organizes and conducts cricket for the blind across India and is affiliated to World Blind Cricket, serving as the cricketing arm of Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled which governs cricket for the blind in India.
CABI has an impressive track record of organizing major tournaments, including the 1st World Cup Cricket 2012, multiple ODI World Cups, bilateral series with England, Australia, and Sri Lanka, and most recently, India won the 3rd T20 World Cup in 2022 and secured gold at the IBSA World Games.
National Pride and Political Recognition
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo congratulated India’s blind women’s cricket team, saying that they have made the entire nation proud. “I congratulate the Indian team who has made the entire nation proud,” Vishnu Deo said while speaking to reporters.
The victory has sparked celebrations across India, with the team receiving messages of congratulations from political leaders, sports administrators, and millions of fans who followed the historic tournament.
A Double Celebration for Indian Women’s Cricket
This triumph comes at a particularly significant time for Indian women’s cricket. Just three weeks ago, Harmanpreet Kaur led the Indian women’s team to their first-ever ODI World Cup title on November 2, 2025. The back-to-back World Cup victories by India’s sighted and blind women’s cricket teams represent a watershed moment for women’s sports in the country.
These two historic victories within a span of three weeks showcase the growing strength and depth of women’s cricket in India and send a powerful message about inclusivity, accessibility, and the limitless potential of women athletes, regardless of physical challenges.
Inspirational Stories: Rising Above Challenges
Player profiles from the tournament highlight remarkable journeys, such as Sushma, who shone at the 2023 Women’s National T20 Cricket Tournament for the Blind, bagging Player of the Series, highest run-scorer in the B3 category, and multiple Player of the Match titles. She then made history by leading the first-ever Indian Blind Women’s Cricket Team in the Women’s Bilateral T20 Series in Nepal, and her journey reached a pinnacle at the IBSA World Games, where she played a crucial role in securing a gold medal for India.
Looking Forward: A Platform for Change
The T20 Cricket for the Blind Women’s World Cup is a pioneering initiative that champions inclusivity, empowerment, and sporting excellence. The tournament has succeeded in its mission to promote accessibility in sports, inspire millions, and redefine what is possible for visually impaired women athletes.
“I think this is just showing how good it is for women to participate,” Adeline Roe said, capturing the sentiment that has resonated throughout the cricketing world.
Conclusion: A New Dawn for Inclusive Sports
India’s triumph in the inaugural Blind Women’s T20 World Cup represents far more than a sporting achievement. It stands as a testament to the power of determination, the importance of creating accessible sporting opportunities, and the transformative impact of inclusive platforms that celebrate ability over disability.
As the Indian team returned home with the trophy, they carried with them not just the pride of a nation but the hopes and dreams of countless visually impaired women and girls who now see cricket – and indeed all of sports—as a realm where they too can excel, compete, and achieve greatness.
The tournament has set a powerful precedent, and with the success of this inaugural edition, the future of blind women’s cricket looks brighter than ever. India’s unbeaten campaign, marked by dominant performances, inspiring leadership, and exemplary sportsmanship, will be remembered as the foundation upon which this new chapter in women’s cricket was built.
For Captain Deepika TC and her fearless team, this World Cup victory is just the beginning of a journey that promises to inspire generations to come and prove that when given the opportunity and support, visually impaired women athletes can achieve the extraordinary.
