Double Trouble: Sri Lanka's PD and Wheelchair Cricket Teams Set for Historic Joint India Tour
For the first time, Sri Lanka's Physically Disabled and Wheelchair cricket teams will tour India together for a series in Chennai.
In a landmark moment for inclusive sports, Sri Lanka is sending two of its disability-format cricket teams to India on a single tour for the very first time. The Sri Lanka Physically Disabled (PD) team and the Wheelchair team will both face off against India in the Sewa Niketan Foundation Beyond Ability India vs Sri Lanka IT20 Series.
The action is set to unfold in Chennai from October 31 to November 2, with the CSK Ground on OMR serving as the battleground for these inspiring athletes.
A New Blueprint for Disability Cricket
The Differently Abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI) views this joint tour as far more than just a series of matches. It is being positioned as a pilot for how disability cricket should be managed moving forward. By bringing multiple formats together, the DCCI aims to break the tradition of different disability categories working in isolation.
According to the DCCI, organizing events jointly allows for a more efficient use of venues, logistics, officials, sponsorship, and funding. The ultimate goal is to ensure that every available resource is maximized so that a larger number of players get the opportunity to compete on the international stage.
"Two Sri Lankan disability teams arriving in India on the same tour is a first, and it shows what we can do when we plan together," said Ravi Chauhan, Secretary of the DCCI. "Our goal is that blind, deaf, physically disabled and wheelchair cricket stop working in silos."
Looking Back: A Dominant Run for India
This tour follows a period of significant success for the Indian disability cricket teams. Previous encounters between the two nations have seen India emerge victorious in convincing fashion:
- Physically Disabled (PD) Format: During the Sri Lankan PD team's 2025 tour, India won the PD Deepak Lohia Memorial Trophy with a clean 5-0 sweep at the Kini Cricket Ground in Bengaluru.
- Wheelchair Format: In June 2024, India secured another 5-0 victory against Sri Lanka during the Wheelchair Cricket T20I Trophy held at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Greater Noida.
Global Ambitions and Recent Triumphs
India's momentum has extended beyond bilateral series. In January 2025, the Indian PD team clinched the PD Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka, defeating England by 79 runs in a thrilling final. This achievement earned the team a felicitation from Union Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya.
The year 2026 also saw India's Mixed Disability side engage in high-stakes cricket against England. After a home series in January-February, India traveled to England for a seven-match IT20 series in August. Although India lost the series 4-3, they ended their campaign on a high note with a massive 118-run victory at the iconic Lord's cricket ground on August 19.
Boosting Visibility and Opportunity
The decision to combine the series in Chennai is expected to provide a significant boost to the players' profiles. Sqn Ldr Abhai Pratap Singh, President of the Wheelchair Cricket India Association, emphasized that sharing the series with the PD format offers wheelchair cricketers better arrangements and a larger audience than a standalone event could provide.
In Chennai, the India and Sri Lanka PD teams will compete in a three-match T20 series alongside the wheelchair cricket fixtures. While the excitement is building, match timings are expected to be announced separately.