Ravi Kant Chauhan, a member of the BCCI Differently Abled Cricket Committee (DCCI) and a former Physical Disability cricketer, on Sunday, 20 September 2026, publicly thanked ICC Chairman Jay Shah and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for their sustained support in promoting cricket among physically challenged athletes across India. The acknowledgement came days after the 95th BCCI Annual General Meeting (AGM), held at the board's headquarters in Mumbai, placed differently-abled cricket on the formal agenda of state associations.

What the AGM Decided on Inclusive Cricket

The 95th BCCI AGM, held on Friday in Mumbai, saw the General Body actively encourage participating state associations to develop infrastructure and resources for differently-abled cricketers. This marks a structural shift: rather than central-level goodwill alone, state units are now being formally nudged to shoulder responsibility for inclusive cricket development.

Earlier in 2026, the DCCI had welcomed the BCCI's move to roll out a structured support framework for the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI), a founder member of the DCCI. That step was described as a 'landmark' in inclusive cricket growth.

Chauhan's Words of Gratitude

'Our deepest gratitude to Shri Jay Shah Ji for his support, understanding and commitment towards differently-abled cricket. His willingness to listen, understand the journey and give the sport greater attention at the BCCI level has given our players renewed hope and confidence,' Chauhan said in a statement.

He added: 'As State Associations are now being encouraged to become part of this journey, we sincerely thank Jay Shah Ji and the BCCI for helping create a stronger path forward for differently-abled cricketers across India.'

Other Key Decisions at the 95th BCCI AGM

The AGM was notable beyond inclusive cricket. The General Body approved the initiation of preparations for the BCCI's centenary celebrations in 2028, to be marked by a year-long schedule of events starting December 2027. It also unanimously resolved to celebrate the upcoming 20th edition of the IPL in 2027 in a grand manner.

On administrative governance, the Board approved an enhanced payment structure for umpires and match referees, along with a complete reclassification of the grading system to ensure better compensation for match officials. The General Body also constituted a new Internal Committee under the BCCI Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Policy and formally adopted an updated Age Verification Policy to streamline domestic governance.

Why This Matters for Differently-Abled Athletes

Inclusive cricket in India has historically operated at the margins of the mainstream structure, with players relying on sporadic institutional support. The formalisation of state-association participation, combined with a structured framework for CABI, signals a more durable funding and development pathway. Notably, India fields national teams across several disability categories — Physical Disability, Blind, and Deaf cricket — making BCCI's administrative backing critical to their global competitiveness. With the state units now on board, the ecosystem for discovering and nurturing talent at the grassroots level could expand meaningfully in the years ahead.