Debaraj Behera, Nakula Badanayak in India Squad for Men’s Blind Cricket Asia Cup 2026

New Delhi: India have announced a 17-member squad for the Men’s Blind Cricket Asia Cup 2026, scheduled to be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from November 15 to 20. The defending champions will aim to reclaim the title after a decade-long gap in the tournament.

The Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) selected the squad following a 10-day selection and coaching camp involving 24 players. The team will undergo a month-long preparatory camp in Delhi NCR ahead of the tournament.

Odisha’s Debaraj Behera and Nakula Badanayak have secured places in the national squad. Behera has been selected in the B1 category, while Badanayak features in the B2 category.

The squad comprises six B1, five B2 and six B3 category players. CABI chairman Dr Mahantesh G. Kivadasannavar congratulated the selected players and expressed confidence in their preparations to defend India’s title.

India won the inaugural Blind T20 Asia Cup in Kochi in January 2016, defeating Pakistan by 44 runs in the final. The country’s men’s blind cricket team has also won the World Cup five times across formats.