Blind 13-year-old cricket fan Ravi Chahal makes commentary debut and aims for media career
Ravi Chahal, a blind 13-year-old cricket enthusiast, made his commentary debut at The Hundred and hopes to become a professional broadcaster.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Ravi Chahal, a 13-year-old cricket fan who is blind, has made his debut as a commentator, impressing listeners with his sharp ear and deep knowledge of the game. Ravi, who describes his blindness as a "superpower" because it heightens his listening, was heard during coverage of The Hundred last week. He has since spoken of his ambition to build a career in cricket media, including podcasting and appearing on Test Match Special.
Ravi's passion for cricket goes beyond watching. He plays the game at home with an audible ball designed for players with sight loss. His ability to judge shots by sound alone is remarkable: "I hear the ball off the bat, because like I hear the noise I can sometimes tell that he's hit that well, that's gonna be four or six." That skill, combined with his enthusiasm, has earned him opportunities to meet many of his cricketing heroes and, most recently, to step into the commentary box.
His development has been supported by the Super Ones programme, which aims to make cricket inclusive for all. A coach involved with the programme said Ravi's disability does not narrow the opportunities available to him, and praised his passion for playing, watching and talking about cricket. Ravi has also received awards, including recognition as a young emerging cricketer of the year.
But Ravi sees his role as more than personal achievement. He wants to inspire other young people with disabilities: "Whether they're blind or whether they've got a different disability, I want them to think that they can play cricket or any sport. I don't want them to think that there are any barriers." His message is clear, and his commentary debut is just the beginning. As one report put it, listeners should remember Ravi's name and watch out for him in commentary boxes near them soon.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 |
|---|---|
| Ravi Chahal developed his cricket skills through the Super Ones programme, which aims for inclusion. | |
| Ravi Chahal has received awards for his cricket achievements, including recognition as a young emerging cricketer. | |
| Ravi Chahal, a 13-year-old blind cricket fan, made his commentary debut at The Hundred. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The report focuses on Ravi's inspiring story, presenting his blindness as an asset rather than a limitation. It highlights his commentary debut, his personal ambitions, and the inclusive cricket programme that helped him. The tone is warm and celebratory, with an emphasis on his potential to inspire others.
- “with being blind it's kind of i think it is a superpower because you can like you listen more”
- “i want to carry on doing things like this i want to make a career out of this i want to do podcasting and be on testmat special”
- “so remember ravi's name and listen out for this avid cricket fans match analysis commentary box near you one day soon”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.