Impact story · Bhadravati, Shivamogga district
Khaleel Ahmed
Wheelchair cricketer · Zomato delivery partner
From village cricket to South Zone star
Khaleel Ahmed discovered wheelchair cricket through a YouTube video and found a second family at DMSA. Balancing delivery work with relentless practice, this determined athlete from Shivamogga now dreams of representing India.
Told in Khaleel’s own words
Chapter 1 · Roots
Roots in Bhadravati
Khaleel was born with cerebral palsy, noticed when walking began around the age of two or three. Growing up in Veerapura in Bhadravati taluk, life revolved around village cricket — fielding, and batting with the help of runners.
Khaleel's father, who always worried about Khaleel travelling off to matches, passed away five years ago. Today Khaleel shares a home with a mother, a wife and three children, carrying a passion for cricket that feels as essential as a part of the body.
Chapter 2 · Turning point
Discovering wheelchair cricket
Browsing YouTube one day, Khaleel found wheelchair cricket — and a long-held desire to play competitively. A call to a contact in Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh led to DMSA's founder Shiva Prasad, who connected Khaleel with Sagar, vice-captain of the Karnataka team.
Sagar visited Khaleel's home in Bhadravati, explained the fundamentals and showed how to play. Regular train journeys to Bengaluru for practice began from that visit.
Cricket is like a part of my body, without it I cannot live.
With DMSA
How DMSA stood with Khaleel
DMSA became a true family, giving Khaleel the platform to play for Karnataka and to dream of India. Through mentors Shivanna, Dileep Anna and Sagar, the academy brought players out from the confines of their homes and gave them a respected place in society.
What DMSA provided
- A place in the Karnataka wheelchair cricket team
- A way out of the home and into society
- Mentorship from Shivanna, Dileep Anna and Sagar
- A supportive sporting family
Chapter 3 · On the field
Shining on the field
At the South Zone tournament Khaleel's performances earned both Man of the Match and Man of the Series.
The hardest part is often getting there: carrying heavy wheelchairs, managing train journeys and finding unfamiliar venues for away matches. Every match played is a hard-fought victory, on and off the turf.
MoM
Man of the Match, South Zone
MoS
Man of the Series, South Zone
Scorecard
Khaleel Ahmed- From
- Veerapura, Bhadravati taluk, Shivamogga
- Found DMSA
- Through a YouTube video
- Big win
- Man of the Match and Man of the Series, South Zone
- Works as
- Zomato delivery partner
- Dream
- To play for India
Chapter 4 · Life today
Beyond the boundary
Life off the field
Cricket has transformed Khaleel's confidence and connections. Friends have always backed the passion; the wider public is more mixed. Facing both scolding and praise every day has built deep resilience — and is changing how people see what Khaleel can do.
Work and independence
Delivering for Zomato provides a livelihood and daily independence. It often means calling restaurants and customers to ask them to come down — some respond with frustration, others with admiration. It is everyday accessibility, met with steady determination.
Chapter 5 · Road ahead
Dreaming of Team India
The dream is to represent India, taking skills honed in state and regional tournaments to the international stage. With DMSA's backing, every practice session and every match brings the national jersey one step closer.
DMSA is like a family to me, they brought us out from inside our homes and showed us a place in the world.
A message to you
DMSA is like a family to me. To play for Karnataka and then India is my dream, and DMSA is the reason. Thank you to Shivanna, Dileep Anna, and Sagar for all the support. Please keep supporting so others inside their homes can come out and find their place.
— Khaleel Ahmed
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