Ravindra Patil, Rajesh Kannur Shine At Inaugural Divyam Cricket Awards
Lifetime Achievement and Player of the Year honours awarded to disabled cricket stars.
Veteran Mumbai cricketer Ravindra Patil was awarded the Lifetime Achievement honour, while Karnataka’s Rajesh Kannur claimed the Player of the Year title at the inaugural Divyam Cricket Awards—Physical Disability Annual Awards, held on September 20, 2025. Organised by the Differently Abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI) in partnership with the Rajasthan Disabled Cricket Association (RDCA), the ceremony celebrated the resilience and accomplishments of disabled athletes, marking a milestone in recognising adaptive cricket at the national level.
The event, attended by over 200 participants from across India, highlighted the growing ecosystem for disability cricket, which has expanded since DCCI's founding in 2018 to promote inclusive sports under the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) umbrella. Patil, 62, with over three decades in the sport despite physical challenges, dedicated his award to fellow pioneers, stating, “This recognition validates our struggles and inspires the next generation to break barriers.” Kannur, a standout all-rounder, earned his accolade for consistent performances in national tournaments, including a pivotal role in Karnataka’s 2024 interstate championship win.
Other notable winners included Vidarbha’s Gurudas Raut for Special Contribution, Mumbai’s Vikrant Keni as Players’ Choice (Popular Player), and Karnataka’s Shivshankar as Iconic Player. Rajasthan’s Surendra Khorwal took Best Amazing Player, Gujarat’s Adil Nansola was named Rising Star of the Year, Uttar Pradesh’s Anwar Ali won Best Junior Player, and Hyderabad’s Chandrabhan Giri received Best Coach. Special recognition went to Nitendra Singh (Baroda) for Lifetime Contribution, Madhusudan Naik (South Zone) as Best Zonal Coordinator, and Dheeraj Harde (Vidarbha) as Best Administrator.
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Jammu and Kashmir was crowned National Best Team, and the Chhattisgarh Disabled Cricket Association was honoured as Best Association of the Year. The ceremony concluded with the announcement that Jaipur will host the upcoming India-England Mixed Disability Cricket Series in November 2025, featuring integrated teams to foster international goodwill and visibility. DCCI officials emphasised the awards’ role in securing funding and infrastructure, aiming to elevate disability cricket toward Olympic inclusion by 2032.
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