A 26-year-old tribal youth from Jharkhand has battled poverty and disability to earn a berth in the 17-member Indian cricket squad for the T20 World Cup for the visually challenged to be hosted by India in December.

Ranchi-born Sujit Munda is completely visually challenged and solely dependent on the Rs 1,000 monthly pension for the disabled from the state government.

“I came to know about my selection in the T20 World Cup. I had an inkling of my selection due to my performance in the triangular cricket series (featuring India, Pakistan and South Africa between April and May in Dubai) and in the 2020 tri-series in Bangladesh (featuring India, Pakistan and Bangladesh).

“However, my biggest worry is to arrange a kit for the tourney. I am not worried about the travel expense as

it would be borne by the board (Cricket Association for

the Blind in India),’ Sujit said at his home in Dhurwa on Tuesday.

Organisers of the third T20 World Cup for the Blind, to be played from December 6-17, had last week announced the 17-member India squad.

The opening match will be played between defending champion India and Nepal at Faridabad on December 6. Sujit is among the six completely blind cricketers in the Indian squad.

“I am looking forward to the Jharkhand government for some help to meet my expenses. I had huge expectations from the government when I won two gold medals during an international athletic competition for the blind held in 2011 in the USA. But I did not receive a penny from the government,” said Sujit.

Sujit’s three elder brothers work as labourers in a tent firm while his father Chotu Munda, 65, is too old to support him.

“My mother (Shanti Devi) used to support me till she was alive. She died in 2019,” Sujit said.

Sujit is the second visually impaired cricketer from Jharkhand to be selected in the Indian team for an international tournament. Another Ranchi born cricketer, Golu Kumar, had represented India at the World Cup in 2014 in South Africa.

Sujit, who has completed graduation from Delhi University, also wants higher educational boards to be considerate towards the visually impaired candidates.

“I passed my schooling from Ranchi-based St Michael School for the Blind. However, I could not complete my intermediate and college from Jharkhand as the university and the boards have a rigid rule for writers needed for visually impaired candidates. Finally, I had to depend on the support of my friends to complete my intermediate and graduation from Delhi University. I hope the Jharkhand government is a little considerate to the cause of the visually impaired,” Sujit added.

Arun Kumar Singh, president of social organisation Lakshya for Differently Abled, has come forward to arrange Sujit’s kits.

“We will arrange a cricket kit for Sujit that would cost Rs 10,000,” said Singh.