New Delhi: On Sunday, Indian physical disability cricket team registered a 49-run win over the visiting England team in the first of the five-match T20 bilateral series in Ahmedabad. The series is organised by the Differently-Abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI) in support of BCCI and the cricket board’s affiliate unit, Gujarat Cricket Association. Batting first, Indian team scored 146 runs for the loss of bone wickets in the stipulated 20 overs. England could only manage to score 97 runs for the loss of the entire batting line-up in 18 overs.

Also Read: Sportability Is Making Playgrounds Inclusive For People With Disabilities

The players went through rigorous training for five days from January 15-20 at the Rajasthan Royal’s academy at Talegaon in Nagpur before flying to Ahmedabad for the series, which is their first major assignment since winning the 2019 World Cup.

India captain Vikrant Keni told PTI,

“We have plenty of all-rounders in the team. We have Ravindra Sante, Wasim Iqbal and Shiv Shankara GS who bats really well and can bowl part time. In Radhika Prasad and Mohammad Sadiq we have good pacers, Pawan Kumar can handle the spin attack. Shiv Shankara only has one hand but with that he hits spectacular sixes.”

The Indian caption Mr Keni hoped the series will bring about a remarkable change to physically disabled cricket in India. He added,

“We expected the scenario to change after we won the 2019 World Cup but it did not happen due to the coronavirus pandemic.cIf the BCCI and IPL franchises support us, it will be great. (Some of) the disabled cricketers come from humble backgrounds. Some of them leave their jobs to come and play. If there is more support, then the players will be motivated further to play for India.”

The team’s coach for the series is Rohit Jhalani, who has played in Ranji Trophy for Rajasthan and has donned a different hat, having been a selector during the 2019 World Cup campaign. Speaking to the news agency PTI he added,

“We have witnessed a historical change in India after the 1983 World Cup and somehow I am looking at this series in that sense.”

Also Read: Delhi-Based Specially Abled Bikers’ Group – Eagle, Travels Through India To Spread Awareness

(With inputs from PTI and ANI)