India D team finished as the runners-up
New Delhi: The Indian Deaf Cricket Association (IDCA), supported by the
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and recognized by the Deaf International
Cricket Council (DICC) and Asian Deaf Cricket Association (ADCA), concluded the inaugural season of the T20 Champions Trophy for Deaf 2026 on May 29, with the India B team crowned as champions. The event, which was held at Delhi’s Bharat Nagar Cricket Ground in Ashok Vihar, saw the India – B Team set a target of 139/10 for India – D in 20 overs. The India – D team gave a tough fight to the India – B team but lost by 32 runs and ended their innings at 107/8 in 20 overs. The tournament also served as a selection platform for the Indian Deaf Team, which will represent India in the Deaf-ICC ODI Men’s World Cup scheduled to be held in UAE from October 2026. The week-long championship was hosted by the Deaf Cricket Society, Delhi (DCS) to bringing together some of India’s most talented hearing-impaired cricketers from across the country. The closing ceremony was attended by Shri Ravinder Singh (Indraj), Hon’ble Minister for Social Welfare, Welfare of SC & ST, Cooperative and Election, Govt of NCT of Delhi as the Chief Guest and Ms Akanksha Yadav, IPS, DCP, Shalimar Bagh, Delhi Police and Shri Santosh Kumar Rai, IAS – Special Commissioner, Trade & Tax as the
Guest of Honour.
Speaking about the championship, Sumit Jain, President of IDCA, said: “I am delighted to see my dream gradually becoming a reality. The IDCA T20 Champions Trophy for the Deaf is not just a tournament—it is a movement that celebrates the spirit,
resilience, and talent of our hearing-impaired athletes. I am deeply grateful to Dr. Cyrus
Poonawalla, Chairman of the Villoo Poonawalla Foundation, for being our principal sponsor and for standing by us through every challenge. I also extend my sincere thanks to all our support partners for their unwavering love and encouragement.
With the generous support of the Poonawalla Group and our partners, we continue to
create a strong platform for diƯ erently abled cricketers to showcase their talent and shine
on the national stage.”
He further added: “We are proud to host this championship in Delhi, bringing together talented players who represent the true strength of inclusivity in sports. Every edition strengthens our commitment to providing opportunities, recognition, and visibility for hearing-impaired athletes, enabling them to pursue their passion with pride, confidence, and determination.”
