V. Indu Prakash, a 17-year-old intellectually impaired student from the steel city, has got the opportunity to showcase his talent as an all-rounder cricketer in Karnataka’s Udipi next month.

Prakash has found a slot in the Indian team for the Asia Pacific Unified Cricket Championship to be held from March 17 to 23. The event is being organised by Special Olympics Bharat (SOB).

The teen cricketer, a student of Asha Kiran in Telco, bats in the middle order and is also a spinner.

He made it to the national team on the basis of his performance at the two national camps conducted in Jalawar (Rajasthan) and Mysore in November and January.

Five other mentally impaired cricketers from Jharkhand — Aniket Gupta, Rahul Kumar Das (both from Dhanbad), Bhupender Oraon, Subhan Bajoria (from Ranchi) and Iqbal Hussain (Bokaro) — had also been shortlisted for the camp, but only Prakash got the nod.

Special Olympics Jharkhand assistant area director Satbir Singh Sahota said Prakash had been selected on sheer merit. “Prakash is a very good all-rounder and we are sure of his ability to help the team win matches,” he added.

In unified cricket, Sahota added, there are six intellectually challenged and five normal players in the 11-member team. The players are equipped with helmet, pad, gloves, abdomen guard and bowling shoes.

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are also part of the championship in Udipi.

Amitesh Mishra and Tapan Adi, the coach and trainee at Tata Steel Cricket Training Centre, will be accompanying Prakash to Udipi.

The three will leave Jamshedpur on March 15. Amitesh and Tapan will officiate at the championship.