Morphological Physiognomic of Divyang Cricketers in West Bengal: A Pilot Study

Introduction: Morphological characteristics play a crucial role in determining performance, positional specialization and injury susceptibility in cricket. While extensive anthropometric profiling has been conducted on mainstream cricketers, limited research has examined Divyang (differently-abled) athletes, despite their increasing participation at competitive levels. This study aimed to investigate the morphological characteristics of Divyang cricketers in West Bengal. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 17 male Divyang cricketers (aged 17–36 years) representing West Bengal. Standardized ISAK protocols were used to measure body size, skinfolds, girths and bone breadths. Body composition was estimated and somatotype components were derived using the Heath-Carter method. Results: Batsmen presented with higher body mass (71.4±10.7 kg), BMI (25.38±2.4 kg/m²), body fat percentage (19.9±1.5%), and endomorphy (4.91±0.4), reflecting greater adiposity and muscularity. Bowlers were leaner with lower BMI (19.38±0.9 kg/m²), reduced fat percentage (10.3±3.7%) and higher ectomorphy (3.99±0.4), while all-rounders displayed balanced mesomorphic dominance (4.47±0.4) with moderate adiposity. Somatoplot analysis revealed clustering toward central mesomorphy suggesting limited morphological dispersion compared to mainstream cricket. Discussion: The study revealed Divyang cricketers demonstrate less role-specific somatotype differentiation, with functional efficiency and adaptability taking precedence over positional specialization. Moderate mesomorphic dominance provides muscularity necessary for cricket-specific tasks, while elevated endomorphic expression reflects mobility limitations and lower access to structured conditioning systems. Conclusion: Divyang cricketers in West Bengal predominantly exhibit mesomorphic tendencies with positional variations but reduced morphological diversity compared to mainstream cricketers. These insights highlight the importance of disability-sensitive conditioning, nutritional strategies and targeted training programs to enhance performance and reduce injury risks.