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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.

Docs remove 1.25 kg fibroid uterus

Mumbai: In a noteworthy medical feat, doctors at a private hospital extricated a massive 1.25 kg Fibroid Uterus from a civic school-teacher through a bloodless ‘minimally invasive keyhole surgery’, officials said.

 

The patient is 49-year-old who suffered from severe anemia and abnormal uterine bleeding due to multiple fibroids for a long time, and a team of medicos led by Dr. Hemakshi Mehta performed a total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) on her last week.

 

“The patient dismissed her bleeding as part of perimenopause, silently endured the worsening symptoms for years, and unwittingly lived with more than 10 fibroids, some as big as 7-8 cms,” explained Dr. Mehta post-surgery.

 

A scan confirmed an enlarged uterus – the size of a 6-month pregnancy – and with the school vacations on, the patient opted for the surgery to remove her fibroid uterus and end her long burden of suffering.

 

Though the MIKS is considered safer with quicker recovery, the laparoscopic hysterectomy for such a large uterus is also technically complex, admitted the doctor.

 

Accepting the medical challenge, Dr. Mehta and her team made four tiny abdominal incisions, using precision instruments to remove the uterus in pieces via morcellation.

 

“The procedure avoided a large 6-8 inch abdominal cut, and it offered all the advantages of a MIKS to the patient, like less pain, reduced blood loss, minimal scarring and faster healing,” said Dr. Mehta of the Apex Superspeciality Hospital, Borivali.

 

A critical aspect of the entire procedure was ureterolysis, carefully identifying and safeguarding the ureters, which are at higher risk during laparoscopic procedures involving distorted pelvic anatomy.

 

Accordingly, the medicos meticulously dissected the retroperitoneal space, ensuring safe removal of the huge fibroid uterus without any complications.

 

Women should heed fibroid signs

Dr. Hemakshi Mehta of the ASH Borivali, said that women often ignore fibroid-related symptoms until it is too late or complicated and this case also highlighted the power of early intervention besides the value of MIKS expertise along with safe, advanced surgical care.

 

“In this patient, we managed a totally bloodless procedure, the patient was up and walking within 24 hours. She was discharged on the third day and is expected to make a full recovery within a week, significantly faster than the almost month-long recovery period that goes with the traditional open surgery,” a beaming Dr. Mehta told ‘The Perfect Voice’.

 

She added that such fibroids are common among women in the 30-50 age groups, but rare below 20 years, though the myomas tend to shrink post-menopause.

 

Not removing such growths can lead to clots, difficulty managing periods, pregnancy issues, urinary-related problems, bowel hassles, infertility, miscarriages, pregnancy effects on surrounding organs, etc., Dr. Mehta cautioned.

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