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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.

Fitoor: A Stage Beyond Words

At St. Xavier’s, Fitoor is making theatre vital again, bringing method, meaning and madness to campus theatre.

Theatre is a celebration of storytelling and human connection. It is where imagination meets reality, and where emotions are brought to life. Fitoor, the Theatre Society of St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, stands as a testament to the will to bring dreams to the stage, to breathe life into stories. It is a haven for the passionate artistic souls who desire to reside in the timeless fabric of theatre. With the unending thirst to create, present and impress, at Fitoor, we aspire to create a platform for stories untold and to tread the well-trodden roads with novel perspectives.


In a nod to Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Fitoor is driven by its theme for the year 2025-26, ‘The Method to Madness,’ emphasizing the idea that there always exists a purpose behind expression, where impassioned actions are backed by rational motives.


Fitoor calls to showcase our truest, most expressive selves in witty and creative ways, embodying the spirit to do the unexpected, and to be, what has never before been. Geoffrey Nadar, Head of Fitoor 2025-26, describes Fitoor as “a driving force for the celebration and advancement of theatre; inviting new members to what is otherwise an underappreciated art form.”


We wish to present a stage for those who harbour this passion, regardless of experience. For those wishing to dip their toes into this art for the very first time, Fitoor is presenting ‘The Theatre Academy’ - a platform to learn and grow in the arms of theatre. For those already skilled in the art form, we wish to aid in their plunge into the professional sphere, through participation in various reputed youth festivals, such as ‘Thespo,’ India’s largest Youth Theatre Movement.


Theatre is one of the time-tested means to convey, and at Fitoor, we aim to utilise the persuasive nature of theatre to create change. Within the walls of our college, through various experimental forms of theatre such as ‘Theatre of the Oppressed’, we wish to enlighten students to the grievances of society and inspire them to take action through plays that highlight persisting social ills. In the world outside, we aspire to surpass the limits set on theatre by extending the art to communities that have been neglected “Khwahishon ke Parindey,” the acting workshop conducted in collaboration with ‘Access Life Foundation, Chembur’ marks the beginning of many such endeavours to create ripples of change that transform into lasting waves.


As the only theatre fest in Xavier’s with no language barriers, Fitoor emphasises the transcendence of art over linguistic constraints. What started as a small initiative, comprising a group of students who put out small skits and presented a platform for people to learn theatre—essentially serving as a stepping stone to the established departments of St. Xavier’s College–has grown multifold over the years. Fitoor's flagship event, ‘Jashn-E-Fitoor,’ has been a medium for the exploration of numerous genres–from swoon-worthy love stories, to murder mysteries that keep you captivated—as well as showcasing social and political issues in ways that resonate with the audiences and leave them contemplating.


Through our growth, we retain our purpose–to build a theatre culture in St. Xavier’s College which caters to people of different skill levels, an objective which is reflected in our events and workshops where we had the privilege of welcoming well-known names in the industry, such as Apoorva Mukhija, Dolly Singh, Raghav Juyal and Nikhil Taneja for Yuvaa Podcast-Be A Man Yaar, Vir Das and Trinetra Haldar Gummaraju, among many others.


We aspire to make Fitoor, the Theatre Society of Mumbai, as we grow beyond the Xavier’s campus. The collaboration of Fitoor’s ‘Karwaan’ and the ‘Poets of Mumbai,’ as well as upcoming collaborations with colleges and artistic organisations, are the first of many steps that will lead to expanding the boundaries of what Fitoor can achieve. There is also a focus on returning to our roots as we expand the society into a community of theatre enthusiasts.


As a primarily student-run organization, Fitoor has been through a roller coaster of phases over the years by showcasing the dynamic visions of the students. Each year has been marked by an extraordinary display of exuberance and creativity, knitting together the voraciously unique concepts. Across our journey, one purpose remains constant which is the desire to leave a lasting impression on all who experience the magic that theatre has to offer.

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