India Make History with First Blind Women’s T20 World Cup Win

India defeated Nepal by seven wickets in Colombo on Sunday to claim the first-ever Blind Women’s T20 World Cup. Chasing Nepal’s total of 116, India reached 117-3 in just 12 overs, finishing the tournament unbeaten.

Phula Saren top-scored for India with 44 runs off 27 balls, while Nepal’s highest scorer was Sarita Ghimire with 35 runs off 38 deliveries.

The tournament, co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India, featured teams from Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and the United States. The final was played at Sri Lanka’s historic P Saravanamuttu Stadium, the country’s oldest Test venue.

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Blind Women’s T20 World Cup is played with a white plastic ball containing ball bearings, which rattle to allow players to hear its movement. Bowlers deliver the ball underarm with at least one bounce, announcing “play” to signal the striker.

Each side has 11 players, including at least four who are totally blind (B1). Players wear blindfolds for fairness, and fielders clap to indicate their positions. Runs scored by B1 players are counted double, while partially sighted players are classified based on their vision.