Bangalore, November 11th, 2024: Railways defeated Chattisgarh by 4 wickets, in the ongoing 7th edition of the Men’s National T20 Cricket Tournament for the Blind 2024-25, also known as the Nagesh Trophy, held on Monday
The IndusInd Bank Nagesh Trophy kicked off on November 10th 2024, with all four teams of Group F- Chhattisgarh, Railways, Assam, and Jharkhand battling out for the glory here at the Sersa Stadium, Kharagpur West Bengal. The tournament will be held from November 10, 2024 to February 20th 2025. The league stage will be played until December 27, 2024.
In the match on Monday, November 11, 2024, Chhattisgarh scored 190/7 in their 20 overs, but Railways chased it down with 191 in 19.2 overs, securing the win. Akshaya Verma and Mebin Anto smashed 66 and 46 runs respectively for Railways. Akshay Verma was adjudged the Player of the Match.
In the second game on the same day, Jharkhand scored 214/6 in the allotted 20 overs. But Assam lost to chase down the target and scored 105/9 in their allotted 20 overs. Sanjeev Kerketta from Jharkhand Team was named the Player of the Match for his gutsy knock of 58 runs.
The league matches of the 7th edition of the IndusInd Bank Nagesh Trophy will be played across six venues: Bengaluru (Karnataka), Kota (Rajasthan), Bhubaneshwar (Odisha), Hyderabad (Telangana), Ludhiana (Punjab), and Kharagpur (West Bengal).
Meanwhile, after the league matches end on December 27, 2024, the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI), in association with the Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, will hold the Super 8 Stage Matches in February 2025.
A total of 28 teams, including 24 state and 3 union territory teams, as well as an Indian Railways team represented by visually impaired employees of the railways, will compete in this T20 format tournament
Group A: Karnataka, Delhi, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Himachal Pradesh
Group B: Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Bihar, and Pondicherry
Group C: Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chandigarh, and Tripura
Group D: Gujarat, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, and Jammu & Kashmir
Group E: Goa, Manipur, Punjab, and West Bengal
Group F: Chhattisgarh, Railways, Assam, and Jharkhand
The Nagesh Trophy was launched in memory of Late Shri SP Nagesh, Founder President, of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India and Founder Trustee, of the Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled. The launch of the tournament brought together the entire blind cricket community into one huge platform, by creating a milestone in blind cricket history.
Dr Mahantesh G Kivadasannavar, Chairman of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) said, “As we announce the 7th edition of the IndusInd Bank Nagesh Trophy, we are proud to have built a pedigree of great cricketers, having selected the best talent to represent the country. The unwavering support we have received from IndusInd Bank over the years in promoting cricket for the blind have been heartening and we appreciate their initiative. CABI hopes to keep discovering new talent and provide them with the best opportunities and recognition that they deserve”
Mr. Sanjeev Anand, Head-Corporate, Commercial & Rural Banking and also In-charge of IndusInd for Sports, IndusInd Bank, said, “We are immensely proud to support the 7th edition of the IndusInd Bank Nagesh Trophy, a tournament that not only showcases the incredible talent of visually impaired cricketers but also embodies our commitment to inclusivity and empowerment through sports. This event is a testament to the spirit of determination and resilience within the blind cricket community. As we continue to champion such initiatives, we look forward to witnessing new talent emerge and inspiring stories unfold on the field.”