Cricket / Meet Sarojkant, Who Rose to Lead Odisha Wheelchair Cricket Without Any Coach
·3 months ago·2 min read
Key Points
- Sarojkant Kumar, born with a benchmark disability in Kalahandi, is now the vice-captain of the Odisha Wheelchair Cricket Team.
- With no formal coaching or support, he rose from district-level cricket in 2024 to become a key all-rounder for Odisha and a player in the IWPL.
- He urges better infrastructure for disabled athletes in Kalahandi to help more talents achieve national success.
Junagarh, Dec 5: Born with a benchmark disability in the village of Habaspur under Junagarh block in Odisha's Kalahandi district, 40-year-old Sarojkant Kumar has carved out an extraordinary journey of resilience, self-belief and sporting excellence -- without training, mentors, or institutional support. Today, he stands as the vice-captain of the Odisha Wheelchair Cricket Team and one of Kalahandi district’s most inspiring sportspersons.
Sarojkant, the son of retired soldier Janmejaya Kumar, has lived with physical disability since birth but refused to let it restrict his aspirations. He completed his education up to the MBA level and continued nurturing his childhood passion for cricket. Using a support crutch, he played whenever and wherever he found an opportunity, often with no formal setup.
His turning point came in 2024, when he was selected for the Kalahandi district wheelchair cricket team and played against Kandhamal. His performance with both bat and ball earned him a place in the Odisha state wheelchair cricket team, making him the first and only player from Kalahandi to achieve the feat. Over the last year, he has consistently delivered strong performances for the state side.
Sarojkant is now a dependable all-rounder -- batting at No. 3 and opening the bowling for Odisha. He has represented the state in matches against Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand and Haryana. He also plays for the Rajasthan franchise in the Indian Wheelchair Premier League (IWPL) held in Delhi.
Beyond cricket, Sarojkant is active in bodybuilding and won a silver medal in the PwBD category held in Bhubaneswar in 2015.
Also Read: Odisha Govt Orders Feasibility Study for Barabati Stadium Upgrade
He dreams of representing India one day, but emphasises the urgent need for better infrastructure for disabled athletes in Kalahandi. Wheelchair cricketers lack proper grounds, coaches and equipment, he said, adding that with government and district-level support, many talented players from the region could excel at national and international levels.
This story is compiled by Aditi Majhi.
Sarojkant, the son of retired soldier Janmejaya Kumar, has lived with physical disability since birth but refused to let it restrict his aspirations. He completed his education up to the MBA level and continued nurturing his childhood passion for cricket. Using a support crutch, he played whenever and wherever he found an opportunity, often with no formal setup.
His turning point came in 2024, when he was selected for the Kalahandi district wheelchair cricket team and played against Kandhamal. His performance with both bat and ball earned him a place in the Odisha state wheelchair cricket team, making him the first and only player from Kalahandi to achieve the feat. Over the last year, he has consistently delivered strong performances for the state side.
Sarojkant is now a dependable all-rounder -- batting at No. 3 and opening the bowling for Odisha. He has represented the state in matches against Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand and Haryana. He also plays for the Rajasthan franchise in the Indian Wheelchair Premier League (IWPL) held in Delhi.
Beyond cricket, Sarojkant is active in bodybuilding and won a silver medal in the PwBD category held in Bhubaneswar in 2015.
Also Read: Odisha Govt Orders Feasibility Study for Barabati Stadium Upgrade
He dreams of representing India one day, but emphasises the urgent need for better infrastructure for disabled athletes in Kalahandi. Wheelchair cricketers lack proper grounds, coaches and equipment, he said, adding that with government and district-level support, many talented players from the region could excel at national and international levels.
This story is compiled by Aditi Majhi.
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