Blind Cricket World Cup Winner Naresh Tumda Forced To Sell Vegetables, Do Labour Work In Gujarat

Over the last year, the ace cricketer has applied for several government jobs but failed to get a positive response. Some netizens on Twitter called for a fundraiser to support Tumda.

Photo Courtesy: Harini PN Rana (@HariniRana / Twitter)

Naresh Tumda, who was part of the team that helped India lift the Blind Cricket World Cup in 2018, has been forced to sell vegetables and do labour work ever since the Covid-19 induced lockdown. Naresh Tumda, a blind cricketer from Gujarat's Navsari, was part of the playing XI of the World Cup winning team which made the Indian blind cricket team champion by chasing a mammoth target of 308 runs by Pakistan in the final played at the Sharjah Stadium on March 20, 2018.

Years after the historic victory, Naresh Tumda is still forced to sell vegetables and do labour work due to financial crisis amid Covid-19. The unfortunate news of Naresh Tumda selling vegetables had surfaced in the year 2020 but it seems that he has been unable to find a job to support his family. Since the Coronavirus induced lockdown, things have become extremely tough for Tumda as the young talented cricketer has been struggling with basic needs like shelter and food.

Over the last year, the ace cricketer has applied for several government jobs but failed to get a positive response. Some netizens on Twitter called for a fundraiser to support Tumda.

"When the Indian cricket team wins the World Cup, the government and corporations rain money on them. Are we lesser sportsmen because we are blind. Society should treat us equally,” a disappointed Naresh Tumda had told Times of India in an interview, last year.