Mumbai's Ravindra Gopinath Sante: From Childhood Paralysis to Captaincy at Lord's

Ravindra Gopinath Sante’s journey from Dombivli, Mumbai, to captaining India’s Mixed Disability Cricket Team at Lord’s is a story of determination and grit. Paralyzed in his right hand as a baby due to a medical mishap, Sante overcame his challenges and made a name for himself in Mumbai’s local cricket scene.

He used to travel 116 kilometers daily by local train from Dombivli to Virar for training under coach Ravindra Patil, who played a pivotal role in shaping his career. Starting his cricket journey at KV Pendharkar College, Sante’s performance in local tournaments earned him recognition and a place in the Maharashtra team, eventually leading to his selection as captain of the national mixed disability team.

Sante credits former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh’s battle with cancer as a major inspiration. Under his captaincy, the Indian Mixed Disability Team is set to play a seven-match T20 series against England, with the third match scheduled at Lord’s on June 25. The team will also participate in a double-header match in Bristol on July 1 against the Indian women’s cricket team. These matches will be broadcast live in India and streamed on Sony Liv.