How do blind people play cricket? They use a larger ball filled with ball bearings so it can be heard, bright stumps, spoken signals from the bowler, and three vision categories (B1, B2 and B3). Blind cricket is a version of cricket adapted for players who are blind or visually impaired. This guide covers how the game differs from regular cricket, how a ball is bowled, where the sport began, the Blind Cricket World Cup winners, and the Indian team, which has won five men’s world titles.
What Is Blind Cricket?
Blind cricket is a modified form of cricket played by people who are blind or visually impaired. Each team has 11 players, divided into three categories by level of vision. The sport is governed internationally by the World Blind Cricket Council, which was established in 1996 and organises the Blind Cricket World Cups.
Blind Cricket vs Regular Cricket
| Feature | Regular cricket | Blind cricket |
|---|---|---|
| Ball | Standard cricket ball | Larger ball filled with ball bearings, so players can hear it |
| Stumps | Standard stumps with bails | Larger tubular stumps in bright colours, with no bails |
| Bowling | Bowler delivers without a call | Bowler bowls underarm and calls out before each delivery |
| Scoring | Runs count as scored | Runs scored off the bat by a B1 batter are doubled |
| Runners | Not allowed | B1 batters have a runner |
| Dismissals | Batters can be stumped or out leg before wicket as normal | A totally blind batter cannot be stumped and must be given out leg before wicket twice |
| Catches | Caught before the ball bounces | Totally blind fielders may take a catch after the ball bounces |
Player Categories: B1, B2 and B3
Every player is placed in one of three categories according to their vision. The category decides the rules that apply to the player and how many players of each type a team needs.
| Category | Vision | Team limit | Identification |
|---|---|---|---|
| B1 | Totally blind: no light perception up to light perception only, with no ability to recognise the shape of a hand | At least 4 per team | White wristband on the right wrist or one white stripe on the right upper arm |
| B2 | Partially blind: able to recognise the shape of a hand, up to 2/60 visual acuity or a visual field under 5 degrees | At least 3 per team | Red wristband or two white stripes |
| B3 | Partially sighted: above 2/60 up to 6/60 visual acuity or a visual field under 20 degrees | At most 4 per team | Blue wristband or three white stripes |
Equipment and Playing Area
The ball is larger than a standard cricket ball and filled with ball bearings, so players can hear it. Every ball used in international matches must be approved by World Blind Cricket. The stumps are tubular and painted white, fluorescent orange or yellow. Blind players can touch them to find their position. Bats are standard.
The boundary is 45 to 55 yards from the center stump in men’s matches and 35 to 40 yards in women’s matches.
How Do Blind People Play Cricket? Bowling, Batting and Fielding
Bowling
Bowling is underarm. Before each delivery the bowler tells the umpire whether bowling over or round the wicket and with which hand, then calls “Ready”. The batter answers “Yes”. The bowler calls “Play” as the ball is released. A missing, early or late “Play” call is a no-ball.
The ball must bounce at least twice when it is bowled to a totally blind batter and at least once when it is bowled to a partially sighted batter. It cannot roll along the ground. The batter tracks it by the rattle of the bearings and the sound of each bounce.
Batting
How do blind people play cricket shots they cannot see? Batters rely heavily on the sweep shot, because it gives the best chance of making contact with a ball that is travelling low and is heard rather than seen. A B2 batter may use a runner if one is taken at the start of the innings. A B3 batter cannot.
Fielding
Fielders listen for the ball as well. Every team includes players from all three vision categories.
Match Formats and Bowling Limits
International one-day matches are 40 overs per side. Twenty20 and three-day matches are also played. In limited-overs matches at least 40 percent of the overs must be bowled by B1 bowlers, which is 16 overs in a 40-over match and 8 in a T20. No bowler can bowl more than one fifth of an innings.
Origins of Blind Cricket
Blind cricket started in 1922 in Melbourne, Australia, when two blind factory workers played with a tin can filled with rocks. Australia held its first National Blind Cricket Championships in 1952, and the first World Cup followed in 1998.
Blind Cricket World Cup Winners (ODI)
The Blind Cricket World Cup has been won by South Africa (1998), Pakistan (2002 and 2006) and India (2014 and 2018).
- 1998: Held in New Delhi, India. Winner: South Africa (defeated Pakistan).
- 2002: Held in Chennai, India. Winner: Pakistan (defeated South Africa).
- 2006: Held in Islamabad, Pakistan. Winner: Pakistan (defeated India).
- 2014: Held in Cape Town, South Africa. Winner: India (defeated Pakistan).
- 2018: Held in Sharjah, UAE. Winner: India (defeated Pakistan).
Blind T20 World Cup Winners
- 2012: Held in Bangalore, India. Winner: India (defeated Pakistan).
- 2017: Held in Bengaluru, India. Winner: India (defeated Pakistan).
- 2022: Held in Bengaluru, India. Winner: India (defeated Bangladesh). It was India’s third straight T20 World Cup title.
- 2024: Held in Multan, Pakistan. Winner: Pakistan (defeated Bangladesh).
Blind Women’s T20 World Cup
The first Women’s T20 Blind Cricket World Cup was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 11 to 23 November 2025. Six teams played a round-robin, and India beat Nepal by seven wickets in the final.
Other International Tournaments
The IBSA World Games also include blind cricket. At the 2023 edition in Birmingham, Pakistan beat India in the men’s final by chasing a target of 185 in 14.1 overs, and India’s women beat Australia in the women’s final. India won the first men’s T20 Asia Cup in 2016 by beating Pakistan in the final. Australia and England also play a blind Ashes series every four years.
Indian Blind Cricket Team and CABI
In India, blind cricket is governed by the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI), the apex body for the sport. CABI is a non-profit registered in 2011 and affiliated with the World Blind Cricket Council.
The Indian blind cricket team has won five men’s world titles: the T20 World Cup in 2012, 2017 and 2022 and the World Cup in 2014 and 2018. It beat Pakistan in the final each time in 2012, 2014, 2017 and 2018, and beat Bangladesh in 2022. India lost the 2006 World Cup final to Pakistan. The team also won the first T20 Asia Cup in Kochi in January 2016.
In February 2026 the BCCI announced a support framework for CABI that covers both the men’s and women’s national teams. It includes international travel for two overseas tournaments a year for each team, accommodation for home and visiting teams in bilateral series in India, and access to BCCI-affiliated stadiums and grounds for domestic and international fixtures.
Indian Blind Cricket Team Captains and Prominent Players
Two captains led India to those five titles: Shekhar Naik in 2012 and 2014, and Ajay Kumar Reddy in 2017, 2018 and 2022. Reddy is listed as the current captain of the Indian blind cricket team.
- Shekhar Naik (India): Captained India to the 2012 T20 World Cup and the 2014 World Cup titles and received the Padma Shri in 2017.
- Ajay Kumar Reddy (India): Captained India to the 2017 and 2022 T20 World Cup titles and the 2018 World Cup title. He also led India to silver at the 2023 IBSA World Games and received the Arjuna Award on 9 January 2024.
- Masood Jan (Pakistan): Holds the record for the highest individual score in Blind Cricket World Cup history, 262 not out against South Africa in 1998.
How to Start Playing Blind Cricket
How do blind people play cricket at club level? Most blind cricketers start through a national or state association, not a regular club. In England, players take an eligibility assessment to confirm a qualifying disability, and the ECB disability cricket team (disabilitycricket@ecb.co.uk) helps people find a nearby club. The club provides the special balls, bats and safety equipment, so a new player only needs comfortable clothing.
In Australia, Blind Cricket Australia links to state associations across the country, and each runs local competitions. Blind Cricket NSW coaches often pair first-time players with an experienced teammate, so a first session is mostly about learning to track the ball by sound. In India, CABI runs coaching camps in Karnataka, Telangana and Delhi.
Getting to matches and camps takes planning. See how blind people use Uber and how blind people navigate airports.
How Blind Fans Follow Cricket
Audio description is the main way blind fans follow live cricket at a ground. At Lord’s, the Ball by Ball commentary service describes every delivery and boundary at all internationals and Middlesex county matches. Some venues and events use the Access Audio RAD system, which broadcasts description by radio to blind and partially sighted spectators. Ask the venue about audio description before buying tickets.
Many fans also rely on phone apps to follow scores and matches. See the best apps for blind and visually impaired people.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is blind cricket and how does it work?
Blind cricket is cricket adapted for players who are blind or visually impaired. Teams of 11 are split into three vision categories, and spoken signals and underarm bowling replace the visual cues.
What equipment is used in blind cricket?
The game uses a larger ball filled with ball bearings, large tubular stumps in bright colours with no bails, and standard bats.
How are players categorized in blind cricket?
Players are B1 (totally blind), B2 (partially blind) or B3 (partially sighted), based on visual acuity and field of vision. Each team must include at least four B1 players and three B2 players, and no more than four B3 players.
What are the major tournaments in blind cricket?
The main events are the Blind Cricket World Cup, the Blind T20 World Cup and, since 2025, the Women’s T20 Blind Cricket World Cup.
How many times does the ball bounce in blind cricket?
The ball must bounce at least twice when it is bowled to a totally blind batter and at least once when it is bowled to a partially sighted batter. It must not roll along the ground.
Do blind cricketers wear blindfolds?
B1 players must wear approved blackout glasses whenever they are on the field. B2 and B3 players play with the vision they have.
Who has won the most Blind Cricket World Cups?
India has won five men’s world titles: the T20 World Cups in 2012, 2017 and 2022 and the World Cups in 2014 and 2018. Pakistan has won three: the World Cups in 2002 and 2006 and the T20 World Cup in 2024. South Africa won the first World Cup in 1998.
Is blind cricket in the Paralympics?
No. Blind cricket is not a Paralympic sport. Its players compete at the IBSA World Games instead.
How do I start playing blind cricket?
Contact a national or state blind cricket association, or your national cricket board’s disability cricket team. They confirm eligibility where needed and place you with a local club that provides the equipment.
Who is the captain of the Indian blind cricket team?
Ajay Kumar Reddy is listed as the captain of the Indian blind cricket team. He led India to the T20 World Cups in 2017 and 2022 and the World Cup in 2018. Shekhar Naik captained the 2012 T20 World Cup and 2014 World Cup wins.
Who won the first Blind Cricket World Cup?
South Africa won the first Blind Cricket World Cup in 1998, which was held in New Delhi, India. They beat Pakistan in the final.
Has India beaten Pakistan in a blind cricket World Cup final?
Yes. India beat Pakistan in the finals of the 2012 and 2017 T20 World Cups and the 2014 and 2018 World Cups. Pakistan beat India in the 2006 World Cup final.
Conclusion
How do blind people play cricket? By sound and touch. A larger ball, spoken calls and three vision categories keep matches fair for every player. To see it first-hand, follow a World Blind Cricket event or contact your national blind cricket association.
