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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Cricket’s Quiet Crusader

Former kca Selection Chief who helped nurture a generation of women cricketers when the sport struggled for recognition Niketha Ramankutty A prominent figure in Indian women’s cricket, Niketha Ramankutty — former Chairperson of the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) Women’s Selection Committee and Manager of the Kerala State women’s teams — has long championed the game, especially when women’s cricket had little platform in her home state. Her dedication helped nurture girls taking to cricket...

Cricket’s Quiet Crusader

Former kca Selection Chief who helped nurture a generation of women cricketers when the sport struggled for recognition Niketha Ramankutty A prominent figure in Indian women’s cricket, Niketha Ramankutty — former Chairperson of the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) Women’s Selection Committee and Manager of the Kerala State women’s teams — has long championed the game, especially when women’s cricket had little platform in her home state. Her dedication helped nurture girls taking to cricket in Kerala. During her tenure, which ended recently, five players from the state went on to represent India, while three now feature in the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Niketha’s journey began in 1995 on modest grounds and rough pitches in the blazing sun of her native Thrissur. At the time, girls aspiring to play cricket often drew curious stares or disapproving glances. This was despite Kerala producing some of India’s finest female athletes, including P.T. Usha, Shiny Wilson, Anju Bobby George, K.M. Beenamol and Tintu Luka. “Those were the days when women’s cricket did not attract packed stadiums, prime-time television coverage, lucrative contracts or celebrity status. Thankfully, the BCCI has taken progressive steps, including equal pay for the senior women’s team and launching the WPL. These have brought greater visibility, professional avenues and financial security for women cricketers,” Niketha said during a chat with  The Perfect Voice  in Pune. With better infrastructure, stronger domestic competitions and greater junior-level exposure, she believes the future of women’s cricket in India is bright and encourages more girls to pursue the sport seriously. Humble Beginnings Niketha began playing informal matches in neighbourhood kalisthalams (playgrounds) and school competitions before realising cricket was her true calling. Coaches who noticed her composure encouraged her to pursue the game seriously. More than flamboyance, she brought reliability and quiet determination to the turf — qualities every captain values when a match hangs in the balance. These traits helped her rise through the ranks and become a key figure in Kerala’s women’s cricket structure. “She was like a gentle messiah for the players. During demanding moments, they could rely on her – whether to stabilise an innings or lift team spirit,” recalled a former colleague. Guiding Youngsters Her involvement came when women’s cricket in many states struggled even for basic facilities. Matches were rarely covered by the media, and limited travel or training arrangements often tested players’ patience. “As a mother of two daughters—Namradha, 18, and Nivedya, 14—I could understand the emotions of the young girls in the teams. Guiding players through difficult phases and helping them overcome failures gave me the greatest satisfaction,” she said. Niketha — an English Literature graduate with a master’s in Tourism Management — believes success in sport demands not only skill but also sacrifice. Strong parental support and encouragement from her husband, Vinoth Kumar, an engineer, helped her overcome many challenges. Never one to seek the spotlight, she let her performances speak for themselves, earning respect on the national circuit. Quiet Legacy Today, the landscape has changed dramatically. Young girls are more ambitious, parents more supportive, and cricket is seen as a viable career with opportunities in coaching, umpiring, team management, sports analysis and allied fields. Players like Niketha have quietly strengthened the sport. Their journeys show that some victories are not won under stadium floodlights, but by determined women who simply refused to stop playing.

Barvi dam, Tulsi Lake overflow; water woes end

Badlapur: The Barvi Dam, operated by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), began overflowing, bringing much-needed relief to Thane district. With the reservoir now at full capacity, concerns over drinking and industrial water shortages across the district have been resolved.


Barvi Dam is the primary water source for almost all municipal corporations, municipal councils, village panchayats, and industrial zones in Thane district. Its water is crucial for meeting both civic and industrial demand, which is why the reservoir’s filling is closely monitored each monsoon season by residents and government agencies alike.


This year, the dam began filling earlier than expected. Unseasonal showers in May, along with the early arrival of the monsoon, reduced evaporation losses and raised hopes of an early overflow. However, rainfall slowed in July and during much of August, delaying the process. Meteorologist Abhijeet Modak had forecast stronger rains from mid-August, and consistent showers over the past few days rapidly raised the water level. By Friday, the dam was 98 percent full, and by Saturday morning it was just a few centimeters short of its full height of 72.60 meters.


According to the MIDC’s Barvi Dam office, the reservoir reached capacity by 3:25 p.m. on Saturday, with water now being discharged at a rate of 4 cusecs per second. The MIDC had already issued precautionary alerts to villagers and local administrations along the Ulhas River. Authorities confirmed that with the river’s water level currently low, there is no risk to nearby villages from the controlled release.


With the Barvi Dam now full and overflowing, the perennial water anxieties of Thane’s residents and industries have, at least for this year, been laid to rest.

With heavy rains lashing Mumbai and its suburbs, the Tulsi lake, one of the seven reservoirs supplying drinking water to the metropolis, has overflowed, a civic official said on Sunday.


The Tulsi lake, situated in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in suburban Mumbai, started overflowing at around 6.45 am on Saturday, the official said.

The seven reservoirs, which supply water to Mumbai, have more than 90 per cent water stock now, the official from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said.


Tulsi is the third reservoir which has overflowed after the Tansa and Modak Sagar dams, due to heavy rains in their catchment areas.

This year, the Tulsi lake overflowed almost 26 days later compared to last year, when it became full on July 20, the official said.


Tulsi is the smallest of the seven reservoirs that supply potable water to Mumbai and has a storage capacity of 8,046 million litres. The city gets 18 million litres of water from the lake every day.


“The catchment area of the lake has been receiving rainfall in the last few days, as a result of which the lake overflowed on Saturday,” the civic official said.

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