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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.

Eroding Edge

Updated: Oct 22, 2024

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), once a seemingly unassailable political force in Mumbai, is facing troubling signs of waning influence in the city. Recently, the BJP found itself bested by its former allies, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) faction, not only in high-profile legislative contests but now also in the domain of university politics. The recent clean sweep by the Aaditya Thackeray-led Yuva Sena in the University of Mumbai Senate elections - winning all ten seats - suggests that the BJP’s grip on Mumbai’s electoral landscape is loosening. It also raises questions about the party’s readiness for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly election.

When it was in alliance with the undivided Shiv Sena, the BJP had expanded its urban appeal across Mumbai while leveraging the Sena’s grassroots muscle. But since the dramatic split within the Shiv Sena in 2022 and the emergence of two rival factions — one led by Uddhav Thackeray and the other by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde (who aligned with the BJP) — the political calculus has altered. The BJP, which had previously counted on the Shiv Sena’s backing in Mumbai, now faces a formidable opponent in Uddhav’s faction.

The Yuva Sena’s success in the Senate polls, much more than just a victory in the field of student politics, is an ominous sign for the BJP’s urban strategy. The win comes on the heels of the Shiv Sena (UBT)’s triumph in the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections earlier this year, where the party secured both the Mumbai Graduates and Mumbai Teachers constituencies, reflecting the diminishing appeal of the BJP even among its traditionally strong urban voter base. The BJP’s rout in 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Mumbai, where it managed to win only one of the three seats it contested in the city, has only underscored its vulnerability. This was in stark contrast to the 2019 general election in Mumbai city, when the BJP had won all three seats it fought on.

It seemed at the time that the party’s blend of Hindu nationalism and development promises resonated with the city’s middle class. However, by 2024, this support seems to have frayed. Internal divisions, the Sena split, and discontent with the BJP’s governance in Maharashtra appear to have undermined its urban appeal.

The Mumbai Senate election result is testimony to the Shiv Sena (UBT)’s capacity for resilience with the party’s youth wing emerging proving that it is able to rally support from a demographic crucial to the 2024 Assembly elections.

The question facing the BJP led by Devendra Fadnavis is whether it can arrest this decline before the state elections. Compounding problems for the BJP, its ally, CM Shinde’s Shiv Sena, has struggled to compete with the Thackeray brand’s enduring appeal in Mumbai.

If the BJP fails to reverse its trend of losing in Mumbai, the upcoming Assembly elections could see a further erosion of its influence in the city.

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