Sign language commentary in IPL

In a groundbreaking move, Star Sports 3 has teamed up with India Signing Hands (ISH), a Mumbai-based broadcast company, to introduce Indian Sign Language interpretation to its IPL coverage. This innovative initiative aims to cater to India's 63 million deaf individuals, providing them with a more immersive cricket-watching experience.

During IPL matches, while Hindi commentary unfolds, a sign language interpreter offers live commentary tailored specifically for the deaf community. This marks a historic moment as the first instance of sign language being utilized for live sports commentary in India.

The significance of this development was highlighted during a recent match between the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Lucknow Super Giants. As Virat Kohli was dismissed, viewers witnessed Kinjal Shah's expressive gestures capturing the shifts in the stadium atmosphere, from excitement to silence, ensuring that deaf viewers felt fully engaged in the game.

Alok Kejriwal, founder & CEO of India Signing Hands, shared his profound experience of finally feeling included in cricket matches after 50 years of watching the sport. Through sign language interpretation, he now grasps the intricacies of the game, from the cheers of the crowd to the tension after a dismissal, enabling him to enjoy cricket alongside friends and family on equal footing.

During matches, interpreters like Kinjal Shah and Shivoy Sharma employ vivid expressions and gestures to convey key moments, ensuring that deaf viewers do not miss out on any cricketing insights. By collaborating with the Indian deaf community cricketers, interpreters have developed specialized gestures for different shots and cricketing terms, enhancing the overall viewing experience.