Claps and cheers erupted at the Victoria Memorial School for the Blind in Tardeo every time an Indian player hit a boundary or a Pakistani wicket fell

THEY will never know what blue looks like, but their love for the Men in Blue can put everyone to shame.


Students at the National Association for the Blind, Worli were ecstatic listening to the commentary of the Indo-Pak clash

When the whole country was watching the mother of all battles, how could the 100-odd children at Victoria Memorial School for the Blind in Tardeo stay aloof?

They, too, stayed glued to the TV screen - not watching, but listening intently to the ball-by-ball commentary.

Like the roaring crowds at the Mohali stadium, there was no dearth of enthusiasm among the children.

Whenever a ball was sent to, or over, the boundary by an Indian batsman, there was a loud cheer accompanied by clapping and the shrill screech of vuvuzelas.
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The fall of every Pakistani wicket was also similarly celebrated. And these kids' love for the game doesn't stop there, for they are cricketers themselves.


Visually impaired children found an able accomplice in the pocket radio to keep them updated with the score

They play with a special ball - which has a rattle fixed in it - so that they can hear it coming and play strokes accordingly. They have also played matches at the Wankhede and Brabourne stadiums.

Jai Dambale, a visually impaired student, said, "I love playing cricket and I want to play like Dhoni someday."
u00a0"I love batting and have been the captain of my team.
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Under my captaincy, our team defeated the Happy Home team recently," said Shivam, another student, with undisguised pride.