In a thrilling conclusion to a landmark series, India A emerged victorious in the third and final T20 match, thereby clinching the Physical Disability cricket series 2-1. The decider was played on Thursday at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, marking a historic moment for disability cricket in the country.
India A Posts Competitive Total
Electing to bat first after winning the toss, India A put up a challenging score of 164 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs. The innings was built on solid contributions from the middle order. Akash Sanap top-scored with 32 runs, well-supported by Prasad Chavan (31) and Jitendra VN (25). For India Senior, the bowling attack was led by Sunny Goyal, who returned impressive figures of 3 for 17. Imran Khan also chipped in with two wickets.
Shiva Shankara's Valiant Lone Fight
In response, India Senior's chase never gained momentum as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. They found themselves in deep trouble at 38 for 5 and later slipped to 81 for 8. Amidst the collapse, GS Shiva Shankara played a spectacular lone hand. The batter smashed a brilliant 67 runs off just 43 balls, an innings punctuated with four boundaries and five towering sixes. However, his heroic effort was in vain as India Senior was eventually bowled out for 136 in 19.3 overs, falling short by 28 runs. For India A, Nonsola Adil (3-40), G Prashant (2-15), and Mohammed Sadiq (2-3) were the most successful bowlers.
A Historic Step for Inclusivity in Cricket
The series, hailed as a first-of-its-kind initiative in India, was celebrated by officials for its profound message of inclusivity. Prof. Dr. Unmesh Khanvilkar, Secretary of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), stated that the event reflected a collective belief in "inclusivity, equality, dignity, and opportunity for every sportsperson." He emphasized that the goal was to prepare these cricketers for higher regional, national, and international competitions.
Ravi Chauhan, Secretary General of the Differently Abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI), expressed gratitude for the platform. "Playing at the iconic Wankhede Stadium was a dream come true for our Physical Disability Cricketers," he said, thanking ICC Chairman Jay Shah and MCA President Ajinkya Naik for their visionary support in bringing divyang cricket into the mainstream.
Recognition and Awards
The Mumbai Cricket Association recognized outstanding performances with cash awards. The Player of the Match in each of the three games received Rs 11,000 each. Wasim Iqbal of India Senior was named Player of the Series and was awarded Rs 21,000. The final match's hero, Shiva Shankara, who hails from Bengaluru and plays with only his left hand, was thrilled with the experience. "It has been a terrific experience to play at the iconic Wankhede Stadium," he said, acknowledging the efforts of DCCI Secretary Ravi Kant Chauhan and his team.
Brief Scores: India A 164-8 in 20 overs (Akash Sanap 32, Prasad Chavan 31; Sunny Goyal 3-17) beat India Senior 136 in 19.3 overs (Shiva Shankara 67; Nonsola Adil 3-40, Mohammed Sadiq 2-3) by 28 runs.
