Did Karuna Kumari Achieve Her Maiden Century as India Orange and India Red Triumph in the Women’s T20 Cricket Tournament for the Blind?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Karuna Kumari scores her first century with 114 runs.
- The tournament features 56 visually impaired female cricketers.
- Organized by CABI and Samarthanam Trust.
- Players are selected for the inaugural Women’s T20 World Cup for the Blind.
- Emphasis on life skills and education support for participants.
Bengaluru, Sep 1 (NationPress) Karuna Kumari (B1) celebrated her first century with a remarkable unbeaten score of 114 runs off just 58 balls as India Orange and India Red kicked off the 2025 Women’s T20 Cricket Tournament for the Blind. This exciting event commenced on Monday, showcasing 56 of India’s finest visually impaired female cricketers from 16 different states.
Organized by the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) in collaboration with the Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, the tournament aims to select the elite 16 players to represent India at the inaugural Women’s T20 World Cup for the Blind, scheduled for November 2025 across New Delhi, Kathmandu, and Bengaluru.
Prior to the tournament, players participated in a rigorous coaching camp. The teams are divided into four groups—India Red, Blue, Yellow, and Orange—with performances being closely observed by the selection committee of CABI.
During the match where India Orange faced off against India Yellow, India Orange successfully chased down a target of 114/6 in just 17 overs, winning by 6 wickets. Noteworthy performances included Rachana Jena scoring 45 (B2) for Yellow, Simu Das with a quick 50 (B1), and Simranjeet contributing 44 (B2) and earning the Player of the Match title.
In the second match, India Blue set a formidable score of 192/4, driven by Annu Sharma’s 66 (B1) and Kavya N. R.’s 72 (B3). In a stunning reply, India Red achieved a record chase of 193/0 in just 17.3 overs, with Karuna Kumari hitting her maiden century and finishing on 114 off 58 balls, aided by Anekha Thakur’s 62 (B2). Karuna was also named Player of the Match.
Day 2 will see India Yellow competing against India Blue, while India Red will take on India Orange.
This initiative, backed by NTT DATA, goes beyond cricket by incorporating life skills, digital literacy, and financial literacy training, and provides stipends and support for higher education to all participants.