India's Mixed Disability XI beats England 4-3; BCCI, Shah hail team
Synopsis
India's Mixed Disability Men's Cricket Team came back from 1-2 down to beat England 4-3 in a seven-match T20I series — and the victory was significant enough to draw the Home Minister and BCCI's top brass to a felicitation in New Delhi. It is a rare moment of mainstream institutional visibility for disability cricket in India.
Key Takeaways
India's Mixed Disability Men's Cricket Team won the India-England Men's Mixed Disability T20I Series 2026 by 4-3 .
The series-clinching seventh match was played on 19 August ; India posted 206-4 and won by 18 runs .
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia , BCCI President Mithun Manhas , and Union Home Minister Amit Shah met and felicitated the team in New Delhi .
Office bearers of the Differently Abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI) were also present at the meeting.
The series win is one of the most high-profile international results in Indian disability cricket, with senior government and BCCI leadership publicly acknowledging the achievement.
India's Mixed Disability Men's Cricket Team returned from England with a 4-3 series victory in the India-England Men's Mixed Disability T20I Series 2026, earning praise from BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia, BCCI President Mithun Manhas, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah at a felicitation meeting in New Delhi on Sunday, 24 August 2026. The triumph marks one of the most closely contested series victories in Indian disability cricket in recent years.
The Series at a Glance
India's campaign began on a difficult note when England won the opening T20I on 5 August by 29 runs. The visitors recovered swiftly, winning by six runs on 7 August and by eight runs on 9 August to take a 2-1 lead. England levelled the series on 12 August with a two-run win while chasing India's 117-run total.
India then produced back-to-back victories on 15 and 16 August, winning by 54 runs and 18 runs respectively to move to the brink of the series. The decisive seventh match, played on 19 August, saw India post 206-4 and seal an 18-run victory, clinching the series 4-3.
BCCI Secretary and President Laud the Squad
Devajit Saikia met the team alongside Amit Shah and Mithun Manhas and described the interaction as a deeply moving experience. 'Privileged to join Hon'ble Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah ji and BCCI President Shri Mithun Manhas in meeting and congratulating India's differently-abled cricketers and office bearers of DCCI in New Delhi yesterday, following their recent tour of the United Kingdom. It was truly inspiring to interact with these remarkable players, whose determination and passion made the Nation proud. Wishing them greater success,' Saikia wrote on X.
The office bearers of the Differently Abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI) — the governing body for disability cricket in the country — were also present at the meeting.
Home Minister Shah Welcomes the Team
Union Home Minister Amit Shah had separately welcomed the squad back to the capital on Sunday, posting his congratulations on X. 'Glad to have met the Divyang Men's Cricket Team of India in New Delhi today. The team has returned from its tour of England for the India-England Men's Mixed Disability T20I Series 2026. Their efforts and determination to win honours for the nation inspire the youth of India. Wished them all the best for their future endeavours,' Shah wrote.
Significance for Disability Cricket in India
The series victory is being seen as a watershed moment for disability cricket in India. The team overcame a mid-series wobble — England levelled at 2-2 with a narrow two-run win — to win three of the final four matches, demonstrating resilience across a gruelling seven-match contest played entirely on English soil. Notably, this is one of the highest-profile international disability cricket series India has participated in, and the presence of the Home Minister and top BCCI leadership at the felicitation underscores growing institutional recognition for the format. With disability cricket gaining visibility, the coming months will be crucial for DCCI in pushing for greater funding, infrastructure, and broadcast access for the sport.
Point of View
Disability cricket in India has operated at the margins of institutional attention and broadcast visibility. A 4-3 series win in England is a credible result, but the real question is whether this moment of political optics translates into sustained funding and infrastructure for DCCI. Past felicitations of non-mainstream cricket teams have rarely moved the needle on resource allocation. The BCCI's formal engagement here is a positive signal, but disability cricket will need more than a meeting in New Delhi to build a durable ecosystem.
NationPress
24 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of the India-England Men's Mixed Disability T20I Series 2026?
India won the series 4-3, clinching the deciding seventh match on 19 August by 18 runs after posting 206-4. The series was played entirely in England across a two-week period in August 2026.
Who met India's differently-abled cricket team in New Delhi?
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia, BCCI President Mithun Manhas, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah met the Indian Mixed Disability Men's Cricket Team and office bearers of the Differently Abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI) in New Delhi following the team's return from England.
What is the Differently Abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI)?
The DCCI is the governing body for disability cricket in India, responsible for organising and administering the sport for differently-abled players at the national level. Its office bearers were present at the New Delhi felicitation alongside BCCI leadership and the Home Minister.
How did India recover after losing the first T20I?
After losing the opening match by 29 runs on 5 August, India won three of the next four games to lead 3-2. When England levelled at 3-3, India won the final match on 19 August to seal the series 4-3.
Why is this series result significant for disability cricket in India?
It is one of the most high-profile international series victories for India's disability cricket side, and the felicitation by senior BCCI officials and a Union Cabinet minister signals growing institutional recognition for the format. Advocates hope the visibility translates into greater funding and infrastructure for the sport.
