Watch an exclusive conversation with Shikha Shetty, the manager of the Indian Women's Blind Cricket Team, ahead of the historic Women's T20 World Cup for the Blind 2025. Find out about the unique challenges, the inspiring teamwork across different visual impairment categories (B1, B2, B3), and the incredible spirit driving these women athletes. Shikha shares how communication and coordination fuel their game, highlights the call for government support, and reflects on the strong inspiration drawn from the women's cricket team who recently clinched the world cup for India.
00:10Viewers, today I have with me Shikha Shetty of Indian Women's Global Team for the Blind.
00:15She is speaking to me right ahead of the tournament which is going to begin from 11th of November.
00:20Shikha, it's quite interesting. This is the first ever global tournament for women T20 for the Blind.
00:26How do you feel about it? How has the journey been like and how is the preparation going?
00:30Thank you so much Hena for the opportunity.
00:33The team is well set because we had a one month coaching camp in Barakamba Modern School in Delhi.
00:42So it's really wonderful coaching camp what we had and maybe our entire team has had a very good session
00:50and the team is completely settled now. So they are ready for the play.
00:55Shikha, for our viewers because not many people know about the format of the selection for the 16 member squad.
01:03If you can talk about the categories which is there in the squad and how do you help the players coordinate in between these categories?
01:11So here in blind cricket it is completely different from the normal cricket.
01:16So here we have three categories. It is called B1, B2 and B3.
01:20B1 is completely blind. They can't see anything.
01:23And B2 is person who can see up to 4 meters. And B3 category the person can see up to 6 meters.
01:30So here B1 category in a team there is a 4 person will be in a team.
01:35B2 category 3 people and B3 4 people. 4-3-4 is a ratio in blind cricket.
01:42When it comes to the coordination. So in our blind cricket team it is all about the talks.
01:49The team will communicate more. They will talk to each other.
01:53And the ball which we use is a hard plastic ball.
01:56Inside there is a bearings. It makes a sound.
01:59So people, I mean our team members will observe the sound.
02:04And the entire actions will be taken care of by the observation sound.
02:09And here maximum will be like if the batter is ready.
02:15The baller will ask ready batter. When the batter say yes.
02:20Then they will release the ball. While releasing the ball they will say play.
02:25So in the meantime other category people, B2, B3 category people also guide B1 people where they have to stand.
02:32How to even the batting time on everything. It is all about each other's coordination.
02:40When it comes to B1 balling. The keeper will guide them.
02:44Where they have to put the ball. Like is it their hand is straight.
02:48Is it they are standing in a proper line. That everything will be guided by the keeper.
02:54So this is how the blind cricket is working.
02:57When we talk about blind cricket. Recently we saw the massive win.
03:01In the World Cup for the women's national team.
03:03First of all, how do you feel about it?
03:05And we are seeing a lot of videos coming out.
03:07Where the players of that national team are actually cheering for the blind team.
03:12They really want this team to win the tournament.
03:15Which is being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
03:17What do you have to say about that?
03:19The normal that we already won the tournament. That was the World Cup.
03:25That entire thing is we are so excited actually.
03:27So our entire team was watching all the matches.
03:30And we are seeing each and everything. It is an inspiration for our team actually.
03:34So how they were playing the Jamimas. That semi-finals. The winning moments.
03:40And how they taken care. The complete team.
03:46So one time. One moment it came. Like maybe they are not reaching even the semi-finals.
03:51But they took it as a challenge. And they reached in the semi-finals. And won the trophy for our India.
03:58It is like for our entire team. They are watching each and every matches.
04:05They are not even missing single matches. And they are following each and every players also.
04:10So they take it as an inspiration. And also they are following all the men's matches too.
04:15And they are very excited to meet the players if possible. If any player.
04:22And so we have the same dream. Because they are also in blue. And we are also in the same blue.
04:30And we are also playing for the same country. We are so excited to see our World Cup.
04:36Maybe it will be the great month. We are just hoping for that trophy.
04:42Already the girls already shown that what is of women's power.
04:46So Nadi Shakti it is already shown. So we are also in the same path.
04:50When we talk about cricket for the blind. It is not something which has gained a lot of visibility.
04:55A lot of popularity. What do you have to tell or urge the government of India to do more.
05:01In terms of promoting the cricket for visually impaired people.
05:05See when it comes to the other sports. There is almost all the district level.
05:11The state level. International level. International level.
05:14There is everywhere the coaching camps are happening. They are having a proper premises for practicing.
05:19When it comes to the blind cricket. We don't have a proper setup to practice.
05:24So it is all like a private system. What we are following.
05:27We are depending on the other organization or other ground.
05:31So may if the government supports. It helps visually a challenged person to come out.
05:39And they can practice in their own areas. So if they get financial support.
05:44At least the training support. It will be really great.
05:48Because what we have seen. There is a lot of visually impaired challenged people are there.
05:56They want to come out. But the main challenges is they can't come for the main cities like Bangalore or Delhi.
06:05Or indoor. There is a very limited places. That also the cricket association for the blind in India is taking care.
06:11If government also supports in this matter. Maybe we can reach in a different level.
06:16Maybe we can reach each and every visually impaired. If the really good talents deserve person.
06:22Will be getting the more opportunities.
06:25And Shikha there are 6 countries in this tournament. Which country do you think is the biggest competitor in this tournament for you?
06:34Actually this is a tough question. Because all 6 countries are really really good competitors.
06:43Because everyone wants to win the trophy. It's maybe our dream of each and every players. And I don't think so.
06:52But still because as I experienced. So we can say maybe our Nepal will be the toughest competitor for our India.
06:59Other than maybe Pakistan also. Yes. So all countries are really really there doing well.
07:04Talk about your own journey. How did you start? This is a leadership role where you also have to tackle the emotions of the players.
07:12Because here we are talking about visually impaired people. They need to be empowered every now and then.
07:17Whenever they face any high pressure situations. So how do you tackle that?
07:20So I am in this in 2019 onwards. The blind cricket. Maybe that is my passion towards the blind cricket.
07:29And any other sports too. Mainly when it comes to this blind cricket. We have an association called Cricket Association for the Blind in India.
07:41And here we have a state boards. Here we have a many organization support. Through this actually. Maybe we reached today this level.
07:51Because although it is not only my effort. So I can't say that it is only my effort. Because it is an effort of each and single person from the maybe a state board.
08:00Or the organization. The committees. Especially the Dr. Mahantesh GK who is the chairman of this cricket association. So everyone is chairing these girls. Everyone is supporting them. Everyone is guiding them. So when it comes to very difficult situations. We like as a manager of this team actually. Morally we support them. Morally we are supporting them. How to come out. If any difficult situations are coming.
08:18How to tackle that. So we also have our own experience. It is like a common life experience also. And when it comes to the physical strength. We do all the exercises. We will provide them the coachings. We will provide the necessary needs. Like a physio assessment. So we have a rashree here.
08:20Our Indian team physio.
08:50Or she will treat them the recovery. So she will take care of each and every injuries. Which will be taken care of properly. So most of the time. Like will be. Each and small, small things will be taken care of by the organization, management. Everyone.
09:03What do you have to say to visually impaired people who have a dream to get into sports? Or to their families. What message do you have?
09:10So I always request all the parents and families. Please do support any. Any sports activities.
09:19because they don't have any restrictions, they're also having the equal talent and we don't have any rights to stop them.
09:27So maybe we can see there is a lot of any person with disabilities, they won the gold medal for our India, some are the climbed Mount Everest.
09:37So there are a lot of people received awards, there are a lot of people across these challenges and they shown what they are.
09:45And in our blind cricket, our ex-captain of Indian men's cricket, Shekhar Nayak received a Padma Shri Award.
09:52And also our other captain, Mr. Ajay Reti, he also received the Arjun Award in 2023, he received the Arjun Award.
10:02So there's no limits actually, so they can reach anywhere.
10:07So it's my humble request, please don't stop them, give them an opportunity, so they will show what they are.
10:14Well, thank you so much Shikhar for speaking with Asianet News and I hope to get in touch with you again when India wins the trophy and brings it home.
10:25Sure, thank you, thank you so much. It's really a very, very big support for our blind cricket. Thank you so much.
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