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Key Points

India’s mixed disability cricket team is set to make history in England with a landmark T20 series. The team, led by Ravindra Gopinath Sante, includes players with various disabilities and will play at iconic venues like Lord’s. The series coincides with World Mixed Disability Day, adding emotional significance. The tour aims to elevate the profile of disability cricket globally.

Key Points: India vs England Mixed Disability T20 Series Begins at Taunton

  • India's mixed disability team arrives for historic England tour
  • Series includes match at Lord’s on June 25
  • Team comprises deaf, physical, and intellectual disability players
  • BCCI and ECB support the landmark event
3 min read

India vs England Mixed Disability T20 Series to start in England

Historic mixed disability cricket series between India and England kicks off at Taunton, featuring a match at Lord’s on June 25.

"We are looking forward to an exciting series, which will raise the profile of mixed disability cricket – Abhay Pratap Singh, DSSI"

Taunton, June 20

History will be made when the first-ever mixed disability T20 series between India and England starts in England on Saturday at Taunton, the home of Somerset County Cricket Club. During the landmark seven-match T20ls tour, the teams will also a match at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground on June 25, according to a release from DCCI.

Led by Mumbai's Ravindra Gopinath Sante, India's mixed disability team arrived in London for the tour on June 15. The 16-member team, picked by the Differently-abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI), has prepared for the series by playing three practice matches against the England Lions Mixed Disability team at the Budleigh Salterton Cricket Club in Exeter.

Virendra Singh is the vice-captain of the team, while the teams head coach is former Rajasthan captain Rohit Jhalani. The team comprises six deaf, six physical disability and four intellectual disability players.

This format has been approved by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

"We thank the English Cricket Board and the BCCI for providing us with all the facilities which are given to the international players for this tour. We are playing all our matches on this tour on the first-class grouns of England," said Ravi Chauhan general secretary of the DCCI, as quoted from a release by DCCI.

"Our preparations have been good. We are looking forward to an exciting series, which wil raise the profile of mixed disability cricket," said Abhay Pratap Singh, Jt. Secretary, DSSI.

"As the BCCI secretary, Jay Shah provided us with complete support from the BCCI. We wish that as the ICC Chair, he would support this format too," Chauhan said. Before the first match at Taunton, both the teams will hold a two-minute silence and wear black armbands to pay their respects to the victims of the Air India plane crash in Ahemdabad on June 12.

The highlight of the tour will, of course, be the third T201 at Lord's on June 25, giving India's mixed disability team the rare honour of competing at the iconic 'Home of Cricket.' The date and the venue both make for a tremendous coincidence- 42 years back, India, led by the legendary Kapil Dev, had clinched the 1983 World Cup on June 25 at Lord's in 1983. June 25 is incidentally celebrated as the 'World Mixed Disability Day.'

The other standout fixture of the tour is scheduled for July 1 in Bristol, where the Indian mixed disability team will play their English counterparts, followed by a T20I between the women's teams of India and England in a double-header.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya K.
What an inspiring initiative! 🏏 Disability should never be a barrier to representing the nation. Wishing our team all the best - make us proud just like Kapil's Devils did in '83! The Lord's coincidence gives me goosebumps.
A
Amit S.
Finally some recognition for differently-abled cricketers! But why is this not getting more media coverage? Our mainstream sports channels should broadcast these matches live. Hope BCCI gives them proper support like they do for IPL.
R
Rahul M.
Playing at Lord's is every cricketer's dream, and our mixed disability team deserves this honor. The 1983 connection makes it extra special. Hope this series becomes regular like Ashes!
S
Sanjana P.
So proud of these players overcoming challenges to represent India abroad 🇮🇳 The gesture for Air India crash victims shows their sportsmanship. Hope schools use this as inspiration for inclusive sports programs.
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Vikram J.
While this is great, I wish our government would invest more in disability sports infrastructure. England has proper facilities - when will our stadiums become wheelchair accessible? Still, chak de India team!
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Neha R.
The double-header with women's team is brilliant planning! Two underrepresented groups getting visibility together. Hope Disney+Hotstar streams these matches - would love to watch with my cricket-loving grandparents.

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