Move over Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Shekhar Naik is here. This 24-year-old is a hard-hitting opening batsman and equally swift at making crucial field placements. He is also slated to be India’s next captain at a cricket World Cup – the Blind Cricket World Cup which is scheduled to be held in the UK next year. In Bangalore, at the final of the National Cricket Tournament for the Blind last Thursday, the partially sighted Naik was leading the South Zone against the West Zone.

Naik’s cool confidence shows few signs his humble beginnings. His family belongs to the Lambada tribe (the tribe is originally from Rajasthan but have migrated to parts of northern Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh). Shekhar himself was born totally blind in Karnataka’s Shimoga district. At the age of eight he was brought to Bangalore where his retina was treated and he gained partial sight. He was orphaned during his childhood but stuck to his studies and soon found his calling – cricket. After his education he started