Patrick Rajkumar

In a nation where cricket is a religion, Patrick stands out as a remarkable coach who has transformed India's blind cricket team into world champions. Born and raised in a small village in the Kolar Gold Field region of Karnataka, Patrick's journey to prominence began when he moved to Bengaluru to pursue his graduation at St. Joseph’s College, sharing his alma mater with the legendary Rahul Dravid. A sports enthusiast during his college days, he preferred table tennis and football over cricket.

After graduating, Patrick embarked on a career as a political science professor, which eventually led him to become a life skills coach and trained counselor working with youth groups. His foray into coaching the blind cricket team began when the Cricket Association of the Blind in India (CABI) offered him the position. Despite his initial apprehension, Patrick accepted the challenge, knowing that his management skills were more in demand than his cricketing knowledge.

Patrick implemented a rigorous training regimen, starting the players’ day at 5:30 am with focused training sessions lasting six to seven hours. He also developed a tailored diet and exercise plan for the team, which, though initially tough, soon became the norm for the players. Patrick’s strategy included dividing training sessions to address both physical and mental preparedness. 

Over the years, Patrick instilled in the team the importance of teamwork and resilience. Despite financial challenges, the team increased their participation in tournaments. 

Their hard work culminated in a series of victories: winning the T20 World Cup, an ODI series against Pakistan and Australia in 2013, the ODI World Cup in South Africa in 2014, and the Asia Cup trophy in 2016. The pinnacle of their success was securing their second World T20 title at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium, triumphing over Pakistan.