India’s Mixed Disability cricket team made history on June 25, 2025, debuting at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground with a thrilling two-wicket victory against England in the third T20I of the Mixed Disability Vitality IT20 series.
Symbolic moment at the Home of Cricket
The occasion was more than just a cricket match. “The fact that this is happening at Lord’s is not incidental; it’s symbolic. This ground has seen cricket’s most defining moments. Today, it sees inclusion,” said Sminu Jindal, Founder-Chairperson of Svayam, invited by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to speak at the event.
Ian Martin, the ECB’s Head of Disability Cricket, expressed the emotional weight of the day: “When I started work in disability cricket, I never expected that this day would come, when the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground stages an international Mixed Disability match. It’s a huge day for Disability cricket.”
A win with historical resonance
The match took place on a date of deep significance—June 25, the anniversary of India’s 1983 World Cup victory at Lord’s. Indian captain Ravindra Sante honored the legacy: “We dedicate our team’s historic win to Kapil Dev sir’s team’s 1983 World-Cup winning team.”
Players from both teams wore black armbands in memory of former India spinner Dilip Doshi, who passed away in London days earlier.
Match recap and standout performances
England, batting first, posted 123/9 in 20 overs, driven by a powerful 77 off 47 balls from A. Brown. Indian bowlers Vivek Kumar (3/16) and Ravindra Sante (3/8) led the charge.
India chased down the target in 19.1 overs, with a composed 44-run knock from Sai Akash helping seal the win despite a determined English bowling effort. The result brought the seven-match series to 2-1 in England’s favor.
India’s breakthrough in disability cricket
This landmark game was the highlight of Cricket Disability Day, co-hosted by the MCC, ECB, and Lord’s Taverners. It marked India’s debut in international mixed disability cricket—a format combining players with physical, intellectual, and hearing impairments.
The Disability Cricket Council of India (DCCI) played a pivotal role in forming the team, while Svayam, known for supporting inclusive sports globally, helped organize and promote the event.
Jindal also used the occasion to announce India’s first National Summit on Accessible Sports and Tourism, set for November 2025, aimed at influencing policy as India considers bids for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympics.
More to come in historic series
The Mixed Disability IT20 series continues with four more matches. All games are being streamed live on Sony Liv, providing fans rare access to this pioneering series.
With India’s men’s team also touring England, the dual campaigns underline a broader transformation in Indian cricket—where some play for trophies, others for change, but all represent the nation’s spirit on the world stage.
