Cuttack, Feb 25 (NationPress) The inaugural edition of the ADCA T20I Asia Cup 2026 concluded at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Wednesday, where Team India triumphed over the Sri Lanka Deaf team by six wickets, securing the first-ever Asia Cup trophy. This tournament showcased spectacular performances, with India winning their opening match against Sri Lanka by 4 wickets, followed by an impressive 10-wicket victory over Nepal in their second game. In the third match, Sri Lanka emerged victorious against Nepal by 6 wickets.

In the rematch, Sri Lanka again defeated Nepal, this time by 157 runs. India then clinched a nail-biting victory, edging Sri Lanka by just 1 run, followed by a commanding 9-wicket win against Nepal to reach the finals against Sri Lanka.

Sai Akaash from India was honored as the Player of the Match for his stellar all-round performance, scoring an explosive 27 runs off 14 balls and taking two essential wickets. Sri Lanka’s Gimadu L Malkam had a standout series, earning the title of Best Batter with a total of 196 runs, while his teammate Gihan Lasidu D’ Silva was recognized as the Best Bowler with 10 wickets throughout the tournament.

Completing a remarkable campaign, Gimadu L Malkam was also awarded Player of the Series for his exceptional contributions, amassing 196 runs and taking seven wickets.

Reflecting on the series, Sumit Jain, President of ADCA, remarked, “It has been a tremendous honor to host the inaugural ADCA T20I Asia Cup, 2026 at Barabati Stadium, showcasing our unwavering commitment to promoting cricket among hearing-impaired athletes from across Asia. I congratulate all teams who participated in this momentous event and look forward to hosting more international matches throughout Asia. We are grateful to the dignitaries present on this significant occasion and extend our heartfelt thanks to all officials from ODCA and OCA for their role in organizing this successful event in Cuttack.”

Praising the ADCA for this historic initiative, Roma Balwani, Director of ADCA & CEO of IDCA, stated, “The first edition of the ADCA T20I Asia Cup, 2026 was truly unforgettable, and I am delighted to be part of this groundbreaking event. Congratulations to Team India for clinching the inaugural trophy and to the Sri Lankan team for their thrilling performance. This series stands as a testament to your dedication and will inspire the next generation of players to pursue cricket and represent their countries across Asia. Once again, I extend my gratitude to Mr. Sumit Jain, President of ADCA, our supporting partners, and the officials from ODCA and OCA for their enthusiastic efforts in making this historic achievement a resounding success.”