CABI names 17-member women's squad for India-Nepal T20 blind cricket series
Synopsis
India's world champion women's blind cricket team is set to defend its prestige on home soil — CABI has named a 17-member squad for a five-match T20 series against Nepal in Gurugram from 2–8 December 2026, backed by IIFL Home Finance and Samarthanam Trust, with an intensive camp starting 16 November.
Key Takeaways
CABI has announced a 17-member Indian women's squad for the Women's T20 Cricket Series for the Visually Impaired against Nepal.
The five-match T20 series runs from 2 to 8 December 2026 at The Ball Park Cricket Ground, Gurugram .
India are the reigning world champions, having beaten Nepal in the inaugural Women's T20 Blind Cricket World Cup .
A pre-series coaching camp begins in Gurugram on 16 November 2026 , covering skills, fitness, and tactical preparation.
The series is supported by IIFL Home Finance Limited and Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled under a CSR partnership.
The Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) has named a 17-member Indian women's squad for a five-match bilateral T20 series against Nepal, scheduled from 2 to 8 December 2026 at The Ball Park Cricket Ground in Gurugram. The series, titled the Women's T20 Cricket Series for the Visually Impaired, marks the return of the reigning world champions to international action on home soil.
World Champions Back on Home Turf
India's women's blind cricket team arrives at this series as the defending world champions, having lifted the inaugural Women's T20 Blind Cricket World Cup title by overcoming Nepal. That memorable encounter gives the upcoming five-match series an added layer of competitive intensity, with both sides returning to the field having already tasted high-stakes rivalry.
Mahantesh G. Kivadasannavar, Chairman of CABI, said, 'This bilateral series against Nepal will give our players valuable international match experience and help strengthen women's blind cricket in India. We sincerely thank IIFL Home Finance Limited for its support in creating more opportunities for our players to compete and grow.'
Intensive Camp to Precede the Series
Ahead of the five-match contest, the Indian Women's Cricket Team for the Blind will undertake an intensive coaching camp in Gurugram beginning 16 November 2026. The camp will cover cricketing skills, fitness and conditioning, tactical preparation, team combinations, and overall match readiness — reflecting a structured build-up rarely seen at this level of adaptive sport.
Sponsors and Supporting Institutions
The series is backed by IIFL Home Finance Limited, Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, and CABI, underscoring a growing corporate and civil-society commitment to inclusive sport in India. Girish Kousgi, MD and CEO of IIFL Home Finance Limited, said, 'India's world champion women's blind cricket team demonstrates what talent and determination can achieve when given the right opportunities and guidance. Through our CSR partnership with Samarthanam Trust, we are proud to support a platform that enables these athletes to compete, grow and inspire more women to take up the sport.'
What the Series Means for Blind Cricket in India
This bilateral series represents a significant milestone for women's blind cricket in the country, offering the squad structured international match exposure between World Cup cycles. Notably, home-soil international fixtures at this level remain relatively rare, making the Gurugram venue a meaningful backdrop for the sport's growing visibility. The five-match format also allows team management to test combinations and build bench depth ahead of future global events.
Point of View
But a world championship win and now a home bilateral series backed by corporate CSR signals a slow but real shift. The question is whether this institutional momentum — CABI, Samarthanam, and IIFL Home Finance aligned — translates into consistent infrastructure, regular international fixtures, and media coverage that outlasts any single tournament. For now, naming a squad and scheduling a camp months in advance is exactly the kind of planning the adaptive sports ecosystem has historically lacked. If the template holds, it could become a model for other para-cricket formats in India.
NationPress
6 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which teams are playing in the Women's T20 Cricket Series for the Visually Impaired 2026?
India and Nepal are the two teams competing in the Women's T20 Cricket Series for the Visually Impaired, to be held in Gurugram from 2 to 8 December 2026. It is a five-match bilateral T20 series.
Who has CABI selected in the Indian women's blind cricket squad?
CABI has named a 17-member squad for the series against Nepal. The full list of players has not been detailed in available reports, but the squad has been confirmed by CABI Chairman Mahantesh G. Kivadasannavar.
Why is this series significant for Indian women's blind cricket?
India are the reigning Women's T20 Blind Cricket World Cup champions, having beaten Nepal in the inaugural edition. This home bilateral series marks their return to international action on Indian soil and provides structured match exposure between World Cup cycles.
When does the Indian women's blind cricket team begin its pre-series camp?
The intensive coaching camp begins on 16 November 2026 in Gurugram, covering cricketing skills, fitness, tactical preparation, and match readiness ahead of the five-match T20 series starting 2 December.
Who is sponsoring the Women's T20 blind cricket series in Gurugram?
The series is backed by IIFL Home Finance Limited in partnership with Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled and CABI. IIFL Home Finance MD and CEO Girish Kousgi described the support as part of the company's CSR commitment to inclusive sport.
