The Indian physically disabled cricket team is gearing up to leverage its all-round capabilities as it faces England in a five-match T20 series commencing this Saturday. Ahead of the series, the players underwent intensive training from January 15-20 at the Rajasthan Royal’s academy in Talegaon, Nagpur, before heading to Ahmedabad for their first major assignment since securing the 2019 World Cup.
Captain Vikrant Keni expressed confidence in the team’s abundance of all-rounders, citing players like Ravindra Sante, Wasim Iqbal, and Shiv Shankara GS, who excel in both batting and part-time bowling. Keni highlighted the prowess of pacers Radhika Prasad and Mohammad Sadiq, along with spinner Pawan Kumar. He particularly praised Shiv Shankara’s ability to hit impressive sixes despite having only one hand.
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Keni is optimistic that the series will mark a significant turning point for physically disabled cricket in India. Despite winning the 2019 World Cup, the anticipated progress was hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Keni expressed hope for support from the BCCI and IPL franchises, emphasizing the humble backgrounds of some disabled cricketers who often sacrifice jobs to pursue their passion. Increased support, according to Keni, would further motivate players to represent India.
Rohit Jhalani, the team’s coach for the series and a former Ranji Trophy player for Rajasthan, sees the upcoming matches as a historic moment akin to the transformative impact of the 1983 World Cup in India. Jhalani, who served as a selector during the 2019 World Cup campaign, is optimistic about the potential positive changes this series could bring to disabled cricket in the country.
