Learning about how a sound ball works and the game of cricket be played with the specially designed ball, was a defining moment in the life of Vaishnav Mahender. Mahender, who suffers from irreversible vision impairment and 13 other visually impaired cricketers, recently represented India at the international level.

Setting up a 14-member team required a big effort but playing against England in an One-day international series made the players aware of the long way ahead. “Even though we won all four matches against the strong English team, we received nothing from the government when we came back as winners. Whereas the English team had great support in terms of sponsors, coaches, uniforms and public recognition apart from being paid for every match,” said Vaishnav Mahender. Trained by a Bangalore-based organization Samarthanam, the 14-member Indian team played the international series last August.

Listening radio commentaries on cricket is what inspired these men to take up the sport. Simon Pushparaj (24), who works as a school teacher in Kurnool district was diagnosed with retinal detachment while he was in primary school.

But despite the struggle, he kept his love for cricket alive and has been playing cricket for over 7 years.

“It was in my special school that I was introduced to the sound ball and this special type of cricket. While learning to play the game, the dreams of representing my country started to grow. I was fascinated with the idea of playing for the country in front of spectators,” recalls 25-year-old Mahender, who works with GE Services.

The LV Prasad Eye Institute on Wednesday felicitated the two visually impaired players, Vaishnav Mahender and Simon Pushparaj. The Rotary Club also presented a laptop to each of the cricketers.