Mumbai: Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar met the Indian Women’s Blind Cricket Team, the newly crowned T20 Blind Cricket World Cup champions, at the MIG Cricket Club in Mumbai, in an interaction that celebrated resilience, belief and sporting excellence.
The meeting marked a defining moment for the world champions, whose journey to the title has been shaped by perseverance, discipline and unwavering self-belief. Sachin Tendulkar spent close to an hour with the players, congratulating them on their historic achievement and listening attentively to their personal and sporting journeys.
Words of encouragement from a cricket icon
Commending the team’s determination, Sachin said the players had overcome significant challenges to chase their dreams and ultimately lift the World Cup. He noted that their triumph would be remembered well beyond the tournament and would serve as inspiration for many.
He also acknowledged the vital role played by families, particularly parents, who encouraged the players to pursue cricket without limitations. According to him, such support systems are essential in enabling athletes to perform at the highest level.
A reminder of responsibility and inspiration
Sachin reminded the champions that success brings with it greater responsibility. He emphasised that expectations would rise and that meeting them would require sustained hard work and focus. Describing the World Cup victory as a beginning rather than an endpoint, he encouraged the team to view their achievement as the start of a longer journey that carries the hopes and inspiration of countless others.
For the players, the interaction was deeply emotional. Meeting the cricketer they had grown up admiring was described as a moment of validation and recognition after years of dedication and sacrifice.
Captain Deepika reflects on the moment
Team captain Deepika T C shared her emotions, saying that meeting Sachin Tendulkar was a dream come true. She said his words of encouragement had touched the team deeply and would remain a lifelong source of motivation to work harder and take Indian blind cricket to greater heights.
Sachin signed autographs for all the players and posed for photographs with the team. In a gesture of appreciation, the players presented him with an autographed bat.
CABI calls it a landmark moment
Speaking after the meeting, Dr. G. K. Mahantesh, President of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI), said that the interaction was a moment the team would cherish forever. He noted that encouragement from a legend of Sachin Tendulkar’s stature provides immense confidence, not only to the women’s team but to the entire blind cricket ecosystem in India.
CABI expressed its gratitude to Sachin Tendulkar for his time, warmth and belief in the abilities of blind cricketers, describing the meeting as a landmark moment for the sport and its champions.