Simu Das, the blind woman cricketer from Nagaon district in Assam, has emerged as a powerful symbol of resilience after playing a key role in the historic victory of the Indian Blind Women’s Cricket Team, which won the first-ever Blind Women’s T20 World Cup 2025. The journey of Simu Das — from deep poverty in Assam to a world champion — has earned praise from Narendra Modi himself.
A call from the Prime Minister
In a surprise move, Prime Minister Modi reached out to Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Chief Minister of Assam, asking whether he had met Simu Das and addressed her needs — a call that left the Chief Minister “clueless” until he realised who Simu was. The intervention by the Prime Minister followed the Indian team’s triumph in Sri Lanka, where they defeated Nepal Women’s Blind Cricket Team by seven wickets in the final to clinch the inaugural Blind Women’s T20 World Cup 2025, with India remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament.
A life transformed by determination
Simu Das was born completely blind and grew up in difficult circumstances. Her father abandoned the family when she was young, leaving her mother — a daily wager — to raise Simu along with a brother who is both blind and deaf. The family often struggled to afford even two meals a day.
Despite such adversity, Simu’s passion for cricket never waned. She moved to New Delhi in class 8 in pursuit of the sport. Through identification and training by Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) and Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, she honed her skills and earned a place in the Indian blind women’s cricket team.
Reflecting on her journey, she said: “When one has no one of their own, they have to make everyone theirs. I am grateful to everyone who has supported me on this journey.” She added that initially, she found it difficult to communicate in Hindi after coming to Delhi — but with determination and self-belief, she proved that success is possible.
Assam honours its daughter — support for future
In recognition of her outstanding achievement, the Assam government — led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma — presented Simu Das with a ₹10 lakh cheque and promised her a government job, marking a historic gesture of state support for a visually impaired athlete.
Simu Das’s ascent from a remote village in Assam to representing Team India on the international stage sends a powerful message: disability is not a barrier when there is talent, courage, and support. Her story stands as a beacon of hope for differently-abled aspiring athletes across India — especially from smaller towns and underprivileged backgrounds.
