Barabati Stadium in Cuttack witnessed a groundbreaking moment in cricket history as India’s Deaf team outplayed Sri Lanka by six wickets to win the debut ADCA T20 Asia Cup 2026 on Wednesday evening.
Sri Lanka posted 144/7 after batting first. In reply, India romped home in 19.5 overs, six wickets intact, showcasing clinical chasing skills under pressure.
Recapping the league stage: India edged Sri Lanka by four wickets initially, then demolished Nepal by 10 wickets. Sri Lanka hit back, winning by six wickets over Nepal and routing them by 157 runs next. A tense one-run victory over Sri Lanka propelled India, who then hammered Nepal by nine wickets to storm into the final.
Sai Akash’s explosive 27-run knock off 14 balls, coupled with two wickets, earned him the Player of the Match award, highlighting his pivotal role in the decider.
Sri Lanka’s campaign was powered by Gimadu EL Malcolm’s extraordinary 196 runs and seven wickets, fetching him Best Batter, Player of the Series, and all-rounder accolades. Gihan Lasidu D’Silva’s haul of 10 wickets crowned him Best Bowler.
ADCA President Sumit Jain celebrated the milestone: ‘Proud to host the first ADCA T20 Asia Cup here—it reflects our unwavering support for deaf athletes’ cricket dreams across Asia. Heartiest congratulations to all.’ He voiced aspirations for more global meets and thanked ODCA and OCA for seamless execution.
As confetti rained down, this victory signals a bright future for inclusive cricket, empowering hearing-impaired talents to shine on the international stage.