CABI rolls out a list of players for the selection trials for representing the Indian Women’s Blind cricket team.
India’s first-ever national blind women’s cricket team was selected on the 11th of April 2023 for their tour to Nepal for a bilateral series, played in the T20 format. Varsha Umapathi was appointed as the skipper of the Indian team.
The Indian blind women’s team led by skipper Varsha Umapathi had an exceptional campaign in the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) World Games 2023 in Birmingham. It was the first time ever that a women’s cricket for the blind was included in the IBSA World Games. They had a flawless campaign, storming into the finals with four wins from four games. The Varsha Umapthi-led side scripted history by clinching the gold medal by defeating Australia by nine wickets in the final.
The Indian Blind Women’s team were set to be facilitated by the BCCI for their remarkable achievement at the World Games. Following their gold medal triumph, they also played their maiden bilateral series in India against Nepal that included a five-match T20I series. The Indian team clinched the series by a 4-1 margin.
“The continuous hard work of CABI and all the State Boards have helped create this platform for blind women to represent the country through cricket for the blind. We formed the Women’s team in 2023 and we have found a lot of success through last year’s performance in the IBSA World Games by securing the Gold beating Australia by 9 wickets and winning the first ever international bilateral series in India against Nepal by 4-1 lead.” The Chairman of CABI Dr Mahantesh G Kivadasannavar speaks about the efforts invested by various state boards and the achievements of the Indian Women’s cricket team for the blind in their brief history so far.
To build a next batch of players to represent the country at the international level, the CABI has rolled out a list of top 30 women blind cricketers of India for the selection trials. The selection trials will be held in Bhubaneshwar from 6th June 2024 to 10th June 2024. The list of players were selected based on their performances in the National Tournaments from the last two years. The selected players from the trials will form a 17-member squad along with the three reserve players that will represent the country for the year 2024-25.
Top 30 Women Cricketers Selected for the Trials
Varsha Umapathi, Valasanaini Ravanni, Simu Das, Padmini Tudu, Killaka Sandhya, Priya, Saloni, J Chandrakala, Jamuna Rani Tudu, Nandni Kalam, Sandra Davis, Karimalikkal, Basanti Hansda, Simranjeet Kaur, Sunita Sarathe, Pritiben Desai, Mainka, Bimla Sandil, Rachana Jena, Noori, Deepika T C, Sushma Patel, M. Satyavathi, Phula Saren, Jhili Birua, Ganga Sambhaji Kadam, Geetha Mahato, Kavya N R, Muni Purty, Pratima Ghosh, and Ramya Chodipilli.
The trials will be held at IIG Sports Academy KT Global School Khordha, Bhubaneshwar. The CABI has appointed four observers who will submit the report to the CABI selection committee.
(Quotes sourced from CABI Media Release)