Congratulating the Indian blind cricket team on winning the One-Day International (ODI) World Cup Sunday, cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar on Monday said their feat "should inspire the potential world beaters in the country".
The Indian blind team on Sunday defeated defending champions and arch-rivals Pakistan by five wickets in the final of the fourth World Cup held in Cape Town.
In reply to Pakistan's 389, India scored 392 with two balls to spare. Prakasha Jayaramaiah's 38-ball-82, Ketanbhai Babubhai Patel (76) and Ajay Reddy (unbeaten 74) helped India overhaul the stiff target.
"Congratulations to Indian Visually Impaired Cricket team on winning the World Cup. Should inspire the potential world beaters in the country," Tendulkar wrote on his Twitter handle.
Except for their initial match against Pakistan, India won all games in the league, in which other participating countries were Sri Lanka, Australia, Bangladesh and England and hosts South Africa.
Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also congratulated the Indian blind cricket team for winning the On-Day International (ODI) World Cup.
Indians got the better of defending champions Pakistan in a thrilling run chase to bring home the crown on Sunday. Holders Pakistan had set India a daunting task of chasing a target of 390 runs and the Indian batsmen overhauled the target after some initial hiccups with two balls and five wickets to spare.
Reddy and Jayaramaiah put on an unbeaten 133-run partnership for the sixth wicket to change the course of the final that looked like going towards Pakistan till then.
"India's maiden triumph in the Blind Cricket world cup shows that these players are not only talented but have the ability to be the best in the world," Sonowal said in a statement.
"The results of the team makes everyone in India proud of them. We will be felicitating the players once they are back in India," Sonowal added.
