IDCA T20 National Cricket Championship for Deaf 2026 begins in Surat
Synopsis
For the first time, Surat is hosting India's premier deaf cricket tournament — the IDCA 10th T20 National Championship — with 14 state sides competing at Bawaji Cricket Ground. Backed by the BCCI and recognised by international deaf cricket bodies, the event culminates on 1 November 2026 and is one of the country's most significant platforms for deaf athletes in sport.
Key Takeaways
The IDCA 10th T20 National Cricket Championship for Deaf 2026 has commenced in Surat, Gujarat — the first time the city is hosting the event.
A total of 14 teams from across India are participating, including sides from Mumbai, Delhi, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and others.
Matches are being held at Bawaji Cricket Ground, Bhatpore, Surat , with the final scheduled for 1 November 2026 .
The tournament is organised by IDCA , supported by the BCCI , and recognised by the DICC and ADCA .
Tejas Parmar, IAS , Collector and District Magistrate of Surat, served as Chief Guest at the inauguration ceremony.
The Indian Deaf Cricket Association (IDCA), in association with the Deaf Cricket Association Surat (DCAS), has launched the IDCA 10th T20 National Cricket Championship for Deaf 2026 in Surat, Gujarat, marking the first time the prestigious national event has been held in the city. A total of 14 teams from across India are competing in a week-long tournament that runs through 1 November 2026.
Teams and Venue
The championship is being played at Bawaji Cricket Ground, Bhatpore, Surat, and features sides from Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Mumbai, Vidarbha, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Delhi, Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. The competition is set to conclude with the semi-finals and final on 1 November 2026.
Organisational Backing
The tournament is organised by IDCA, hosted by the Gujarat Deaf Cricket Association (GDCA), and co-hosted by DCAS. IDCA is a founder-member of the Differently Abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI), is supported by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and holds recognition from both the Deaf International Cricket Council (DICC) and the Asian Deaf Cricket Association (ADCA).
What Leaders Said
Sumit Jain, president of IDCA, said: 'At IDCA, our endeavour is to ensure that deaf cricketers have meaningful opportunities to compete, develop their skills and earn recognition for their talent. We remain committed to creating an environment where athletes can pursue their ambitions and have their abilities recognised through their performances.'
Jigar Thakkar, general secretary of DCAS, called it 'an honour for Surat, Gujarat, to host this prestigious national championship for the first time,' adding that the enthusiasm, discipline, and talent demonstrated by the participating teams made the tournament 'a memorable celebration of deaf cricket.'
Tejas Parmar, IAS, Collector and District Magistrate, Surat District, Government of Gujarat, who served as Chief Guest at the inauguration, said: 'Sport has the power to create opportunities, foster inclusion and ensure that talent is recognised on merit. It is a proud moment for Surat to host the IDCA 10th T20 National Cricket Championship for Deaf 2026 for the first time.'
Why This Tournament Matters
The championship represents one of the few national-level competitive platforms available to deaf cricketers in India, offering visibility that is otherwise difficult to access outside the para-sports calendar. Notably, this is the 10th edition of the IDCA T20 National Championship, reflecting over a decade of organised deaf cricket at the national level. With BCCI support and international recognition from the DICC and ADCA, the tournament operates within a credible institutional framework.
As matches progress at Bawaji Cricket Ground through the week, the spotlight will fall on the semi-finals and final on 1 November 2026 — a milestone conclusion to Surat's debut as a national deaf cricket host.
Point of View
Which has historically been concentrated around a handful of metros. The BCCI's support lends credibility, but institutional backing alone does not guarantee sustained visibility — deaf cricketers remain outside mainstream broadcast and sponsorship pipelines. With 14 states now fielding competitive teams, the talent base is clearly broad; the real gap is in post-tournament pathways: selection pipelines, India squad programmes, and international exposure through the DICC circuit. Until those are formalised, events like this risk being celebrated in isolation rather than feeding a coherent national deaf cricket structure.
NationPress
27 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the IDCA T20 National Cricket Championship for Deaf 2026?
It is the 10th edition of the Indian Deaf Cricket Association's national T20 tournament, bringing together 14 state teams to compete in Surat, Gujarat, from 27 October to 1 November 2026. It is the premier national cricket competition for deaf cricketers in India, backed by the BCCI and recognised internationally by the DICC and ADCA.
Where is the IDCA Deaf Cricket Championship 2026 being held?
The tournament is being played at Bawaji Cricket Ground, Bhatpore, in Surat, Gujarat. This is the first time Surat has hosted the national deaf cricket championship.
Which teams are participating in the 2026 deaf cricket championship?
Fourteen teams are taking part: Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Mumbai, Vidarbha, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Delhi, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh.
When is the final of the IDCA T20 Deaf Cricket Championship 2026?
The semi-finals and final are scheduled for 1 November 2026 at Bawaji Cricket Ground in Surat, Gujarat.
Who supports the Indian Deaf Cricket Association (IDCA)?
IDCA is supported by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and is recognised by the Deaf International Cricket Council (DICC) and the Asian Deaf Cricket Association (ADCA). It is also a founder-member of the Differently Abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI).
