Bengaluru, India, September 12, 2026: The Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) today named a probable squad of 24 players for the Indian Men’s Blind Cricket Team, as the country begins its title defence at the second Men’s Asia Cup 2026 for the Blind, to be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from November 13, 2026. CABI is the sports initiative of Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled and promotes cricket for the blind in India and worldwide.
The Asia Cup returns after a ten-year gap, following a delay caused by logistical constraints. From the 24 probable’s, a national coaching and selection camp will run cricket training, fitness and conditioning sessions, tactical preparation, and practice matches. A selection committee and coaching team will assess players on performance, fitness, skills, and team combinations before naming the final squad of 17 that will represent India in Dhaka.
India enters the tournament as defending champions and title holders of the inaugural Asia Cup, having beaten Pakistan in the final at Kochi, Kerala, in 2016 to become the tournament’s first champions. The competition offers a major international platform for visually impaired cricketers from across the region, and a chance for the current squad to build on that legacy.
Dr. Mahantesh G. Kivadasannavar, Chairman, Cricket Association for the Blind in India, and Founder & Managing Trustee, Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled expressd “The return of the Men’s Blind Cricket Asia Cup after ten years is a significant moment for the entire blind cricket fraternity. We hold very special memories of the inaugural Asia Cup in Kochi in 2016, when India defeated Pakistan to become the first champions. Ten years later, we are excited to begin our title defence in Bangladesh. These 24 probables represent some of the finest blind cricketing talent from across India, and we look forward to selecting a strong, competitive team that will carry onto the field”
The players will be closely assessed by the selection committee and coaching team during the camp. Based on their performances, fitness, skills and team combinations, the final 17-member Indian squad will be selected to represent the country at the Asia Cup in Dhaka Bangladesh.
A decade after lifting the inaugural trophy on home soil, India will travel to Bangladesh with the ambition of successfully defending its Asia Cup crown. The tournament will also provide an opportunity for a new generation of Indian blind cricketers to carry forward the country’s proud legacy and demonstrate their talent on the international stage.
CABI will announce the final squad of 17 once the coaching and selection camp concludes.
India’s Probable Squad for the Asia Cup 2026
| Sl No | Name of the Player | Sight Category | State |
| 1 | Naresh Tumda | B1 | Gujarat |
| 2 | Sanjay Kumar Shah | B1 | Delhi |
| 3 | Debaraj Behera | B1 | Odisha |
| 4 | Ashok Reddy | B1 | Andhra Pradesh |
| 5 | Praveen Kumar Sharma | B1 | Haryana |
| 6 | Mukesh Kumar Rawat | B1 | Delhi |
| 7 | Sayanth K B | B1 | Kerala |
| 8 | Golu Kumar | B1 | Jharkhand |
| 9 | Dunna Venkateshwararao | B2 | Andhra Pradesh |
| 10 | Rambir Singh | B2 | Delhi |
| 11 | Lokesha | B2 | Karnataka |
| 12 | Manish Kumar | B2 | Delhi |
| 13 | Nakula Badanayak | B2 | Odisha |
| 14 | Deepak Singh Rawat | B2 | Uttarakhand |
| 15 | Snehith S Kumar | B2 | Kerala |
| 16 | Irfan Diwan | B2 | Delhi |
| 17 | Bhaskar K | B2 | Karnataka |
| 18 | Durga Rao Tompaki | B3 | Andhra Pradesh |
| 19 | Sunil Ramesh | B3 | Karnataka |
| 20 | Sukhram Majhi | B3 | Odisha |
| 21 | A Ravi | B3 | Andhra Pradesh |
| 22 | Dinesh Rathva | B3 | Gujarat |
| 23 | Deepak | B3 | Haryana |
| 24 | Gambheer S Chauhan | B3 | Uttarakhand |
About Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled
Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled is a Bengaluru-based non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering persons with disabilities and underserved communities through education, livelihood, sports, rehabilitation, and developmental initiatives. Founded in 1997 by Dr. Mahantesh G. Kivadasannavar, the organisation has impacted millions of lives across India through its inclusive and sustainable development programmes. For more details, visit: https://samarthanam.org
About the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI)
The Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) is the cricketing arm of Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, serves as the apex body for blind cricket in the country and is affiliated with the World Blind Cricket Council. CABI works towards promoting and developing cricket opportunities for visually impaired athletes, creating pathways for participation, excellence, and international representation. For more details, visit www. https://blindcricket.in/