India wins inaugural blind women’s T20 World Cup
November 23, 2025 03:28 pm
India defeated Nepal by seven wickets in Colombo to win the inaugural Blind Women’s T20 World Cup in Colombo.
India won the toss and elected to field and restricted Nepal to 114-5.
Sarita Ghimire top scored for Nepal with 35 off 38 balls.
The Indians reached the target in just 12 overs to become the unbeaten champions in an inaugural tournament that also included Australia, Pakistan, the United States and Sri Lanka.
Phula Saren hit 44 off 27 deliveries to guide India to the title.
India was captained by Deepika TC, a Karnataka native who lost her sight as a baby after an accident.
Sri Lanka and India co-hosted the tournament with the final at Sri Lanka’s oldest Test venue, the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium.
Blind cricket is played with a white plastic ball packed with ball bearings that rattle as it rolls -- which allows it to be heard by players.
The bowler must ask the striker if he or she is ready and then yell “play” as the ball is delivered underarm with at least one bounce.
Each side has 11 players, like regular cricket, but at least four must be totally blind. Players are required to wear blindfolds for fairness.
Fielders clap once to reveal their positions.
Others players can be partially sighted, classified by how far they can see -- two metres for B2 players, six for B3.
Each team can have up to eight B1, or totally blind, players. Any run scored by a B1 player is counted as two.
