INDIA NEWS: In a groundbreaking moment for Indian sports, India’s first mixed disability cricket team took the field at Lord’s Cricket Ground for the very first time this week. The match marked India’s official entry into mixed disability cricket on a global stage, against a side that has been playing this format for nearly eight years.
Adding to the significance of the moment, Sminu Jindal, Founder-Chairperson of Svayam, was invited by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to speak on inclusive sports at the iconic venue. She addressed representatives from seven international cricket boards, urging for greater inclusion—not just in terms of access, but in opportunity and visibility.
“The fact that this is happening at Lord’s is not incidental, it’s symbolic,” said Jindal. “This ground has seen cricket’s most defining moments. Today, it sees inclusion.”
A Result of Years of Work by DCCI and Svayam
The event is a culmination of years of effort by the Disability Cricket Council of India (DCCI), which has worked relentlessly to bring together players with physical, intellectual, and hearing impairments under one team.
Svayam’s partnership with DCCI began in 2021, supporting several milestones in the para-sports ecosystem—from the Tokyo Paralympics and PD Championship to national events like the Khelo India Para Games.
Two Indian Teams in England, Two Missions
While India’s national men’s cricket team is also currently touring England, the presence of the mixed disability team brings a new narrative: one team plays for victory, the other plays for visibility and inclusion. Together, they expand the definition of what it means to represent India internationally.
National Summit on Accessible Sports Announced
During her speech, Sminu Jindal also announced that Svayam will host India’s first National Summit on Accessible Sports and Tourism in November 2025. The summit aims to bring together policymakers, athletes, hospitality professionals, and disability rights advocates to create a collaborative roadmap for accessible sports infrastructure—especially as India eyes bids for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and 2036 Olympics.
More Than Just a Match
For both DCCI and Svayam, this moment is not a one-time celebration but part of a broader mission: to make sports accessible for every kind of player, on every kind of pitch. The match at Lord’s is a milestone—but it’s only the beginning.
