New Delhi: Disability rights advocate Nipun Malhotra has reached out to BCCI and its secretary Jay Shah seeking information on wheelchair-friendly seats in Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium, which will host the second India-Australia Test match beginning 17 February.
Malhotra, who wanted to watch the game, took to Twitter on Monday, and said he could not find these seats online. He has also tried all contact numbers put out on the BCCI website, and those available online for the stadium. “Unfortunately none of them work,” he said.
Tried all the numbers provided on @BCCI website and those available for Kotla online. Unfortunately none of them work https://t.co/kdsFTw8ltS
— Nipun Malhotra (@nipunmalhotra) February 13, 2023
Founder of the crowdsourcing platform, Wheels for Life, that helps to connect those in need of wheelchairs to donors, the 35-year-old disability rights activist was also instrumental in getting Zomato to add wheelchair-access filters to their restaurant listings.
In his website, Malhotra mentions that he got the disabled exempted from the odd-even car rule in Delhi. He has also been advising NITI Aayog on issues related to disability since 2016.
India’s performance at the stadium
The international cricket ground, previously called the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, is owned and maintained by the DDCA or the Delhi District Cricket Association. In 2019, the stadium was renamed after late minister Arun Jaitley, who was also a former DDCA president. The venue first hosted a Test match in 1948. Today, it has the capacity to seat a little over 40,000 people.
India have gone undefeated at the Kotla grounds since 1987, with 10 wins and two draws.
According to Cricket Australia, the only time Australia has won in Delhi was in 1959 when the team captained by Richie Benaud defeated the hosts by an innings and 127 runs.
The touring Australia faced a crushing defeat in the first test match in Nagpur, and will look to salvage some pride in Delhi.
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