Cricket

The introduction of sign language commentary in TV broadcasts has revolutionized the cricket-viewing experience for deaf and hard of hearing individuals. During the T20 World Cup final, the thrilling narration of Suryakumar Yadav's spectacular catch and the enthusiastic shouts of "long-off, long-off...!" brought joy to millions of Indian viewers, including those who had previously been excluded from the full experience.Disney+ Hotstar, the official streaming platform, collaborated with Indian Sign Language to provide real-time updates through a translator on the live stream. This allowed deaf and hard of hearing viewers to follow the action and immerse themselves in the excitement. Additionally, the audio descriptive feed was enhanced with voice-over technology, converting text and images into speech output for visually impaired users.For deaf cricket players like Needa Shaikh, the captain of Mumbai's deaf cricket team, the sign language commentary was a game-changer. "Seeing Team India lift the trophy was an unforgettable moment, and the ISL feed made it even more special for us," she said. "We felt truly included in the celebration and enjoyed every match played by our team."Nikhil Chanchlani, another deaf cricket player, believes that the commentary has enhanced his skills on the field. "I have played in state level tournaments and deaf cricket championships, but our matches normally don't have any commentary," he said. "I feel like after knowing the technical details of international cricket, it has improved my understanding of professional cricket as a batsman."For fans like Yadnesh Maladkar, the sign language commentary brought the excitement of the final to life. "During the final, the famous catch from Surya Kumar Yadav, I could see the entire crowd making noise and the commentators' excitement only due to the interpretation and that doubled my excitement," he said.Mansi Shah, one of the interpreters, emphasized the importance of proper interpretation for the deaf community. "It was liberating to watch independently, without relying on someone to explain the action," said Mahesh, Mansi's father and a passionate deaf cricket enthusiast. "This step not only deepened my connection to the game but also gave me a sense of belonging and equality."The inclusion of sign language commentary in TV broadcasts has opened up a new world of cricket for deaf and hard of hearing individuals. It has allowed them to fully experience the excitement, drama, and technical nuances of the game, fostering a sense of inclusion and equality.

In a groundbreaking move for Indian sports streaming, Disney+ Hotstar will offer the ICC Men's T20 World Cup with Hindi audio description and Indian Sign Language (ISL) for visually and hearing impaired viewers. This marks the first time such accessibility features have been introduced for live cricket streaming in India.The tournament, which is estimated to have a media value of ₹1,600–2,000 crore, will feature 10 matches with these accessibility features, including India matches, semifinals, and finals. Disney+ Hotstar had previously streamed some Indian Premier League matches with a Hindi descriptive track in 2022.Sajith Sivanandan, head of Disney+ Hotstar, emphasized the importance of democratizing the game by making it accessible to all. He noted that the platform aims to make its original programming available with closed captioning and audio description tracks.While ISL interpretation of commentary is new for streaming, Disney has faced challenges in ensuring consistent closed captioning and audio description for content licensed from studios. A review by The Hindu last year found that most streaming platforms in India have limited availability of same-language closed captioning or audio description for their content.The IT Rules, 2021 include a recommendation for streaming platforms to make their content accessible to differently abled users. However, most work in this regard has been through the industry's own practices, and the government has not visibly exerted pressure to facilitate accessibility on OTT platforms.Disney+ Hotstar's initiative is a significant step towards making sports more inclusive and accessible to all. It aligns with the growing demand for accessibility features in the digital age and sets a positive example for other streaming platforms to follow.