Svayam backs inclusive cricket, partners with DCCI for India–England Mixed Disability T20I Series

New Delhi: As India’s para cricket continues to gain momentum on the global stage, accessibility organisation Svayam has strengthened its commitment to inclusive sport by partnering with the Differently Abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI) for the upcoming Mixed Disability India–England T20I Series 2026. Svayam will serve as the Accessibility Partner and Co-sponsor for the series.

The collaboration was formally announced at a press conference held on Wednesday at the Jindal Centre in New Delhi. The event was attended by key stakeholders from Indian and international disability cricket, including Sminu Jindal, Founder-Chairperson of Svayam and Managing Director of Jindal SAW Ltd; Ravi Chauhan, President of DCCI; and Ian Martin, Head of Disability Cricket at the England and Wales Cricket Board. Coaches and captains of both the Indian and England teams were also present.

The five-match T20 International series is scheduled to be played from January 29 to February 6, 2026, with matches hosted across Greater Noida and Jaipur. The series is being seen as another significant milestone for inclusive cricket in India, highlighting growing international collaboration and increasing focus on accessibility in sport.

Speaking on the collaboration, Sminu Jindal, Founder and Chairperson, Svayam, and Managing Director, Jindal SAW Ltd, said, “We at Svayam have a history of supporting para sports, be it the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, the world para athletics championship or disability cricket and we remain steadfast in our commitment to creating an accessible sporting environment for our players.

"Svayam has supported para-cricket when the England T20 Series was held at Lords Stadium in 2025 and this association of Svayam further strengthens our commitment to bring para sports to the forefront. The sense of belonging that parasport gives is unparalleled. It not only builds confidence and discipline but creates communities where everyone gets the opportunity to win, learn, and grow together. Through our continued association with DCCI, we at Svayam are proud to support a movement that places dignity, access, and inclusion at the heart of sport. We hope this collaboration further empowers players to come into their own and inspires institutions to prioritise accessibility as an integral part of sporting excellence.

"We wish Team India and Team England the very best for the upcoming series and look forward to many more such collaborations that strengthen the pathway towards a truly accessible and inclusive sporting future.”

The India–England Mixed Disability T20I Series brings together players with physical disabilities, hearing impairments, and intellectual disabilities, competing in a single international format, underscoring the growing global recognition of mixed disability cricket as a competitive and unifying sporting platform. Svayam’s role as Accessibility Partner will focus on ensuring barrier-free access for players, officials, and spectators with reduced mobility, reinforcing the idea that inclusive sport begins with inclusive environments.

Ian Martin, Head of Disability Cricket, England and Wales Cricket Board stated, “This series reflects how far disability cricket has come and where it is headed. India’s commitment to accessibility and inclusion, supported by organisations like Svayam and DCCI, sends a powerful message to the global cricketing community. We look forward to an exciting series and to witnessing para sport grow, inspire and flourish globally.”

Highlighting the significance of the association, Ravi Chauhan, President, Differently Abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI), further added, “India’s mixed disability cricket journey has gained tremendous momentum, and collaborations like these are vital to sustaining that growth. Svayam’s expertise and long-standing work in accessibility brings immense value to the ecosystem. Together, we are not just hosting a series, we are setting benchmarks for how inclusive sport should be planned, delivered, and experienced.”

DCCI recently announced India’s men’s mixed disability squad for the historic series. With Ravindra Sante leading the side as Captain and Vivek Kumar named as Vice-Captain, the team includes Vivek Kumar (hearing impairment), Akash Singh (hearing impairment), Sibun Nanda (hearing impairment), Shariq Majeed (hearing impairment), Krishna Gowda (hearing impairment), Deepak Kumar (hearing impairment), Jithendra V N (physical impairment), Majid (physical impairment), Wasim Iqbal (physical impairment), Yogender Badoriya (physical impairment), Akash Patil (physical impairment), Sandeep (Intellectual impairment), Rizwan (Intellectual Impairment), Tarun (Intellectual impairment), Soham (Intellectual impairment) and Jayesh Parmar (Intellectual impairment).

The England team included Callum Flynn (physical impairment), Aditya Patwardhan (hearing impairment), Alex Hammond (physical impairment), Alfie Pyle (physical impairment), Angus Brown (physical impairment), Chris Edwards (Intellectual impairment), Dan Reynaldo (physical impairment), Jon Gale (physical impairment), Henry Wainman (physical impairment), Jake Vosloo (physical impairment), James Dixon (hearing impairment), Jordan Williams (physical impairment), Josh Price (hearing impairment), Liam O’Brien (physical impairment), Mohammad Farooq (hearing impairment) and Ronnie Jackson (Intellectual impairment).

India’s preparations have been in full swing, with the national training camp concluding ahead of the team’s departure to Greater Noida on January 25.

Tags : Svayam, Sminu Jindal, Ravi Chauhan, Differently Abled, Mixed Disability