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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.

Opposition becomes bold, brutal

Mumbai: In a rare and striking display of unity, the Opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance and several other political parties are gearing up for a major protest against the perceived ‘vote-chori’ in Mumbai on Saturday.


The demonstration will seek to highlight what they describe as “glaring irregularities” in the state’s voter lists ahead of the upcoming civic body elections that prevents a level playing field in the polls.


According to MVA leaders, this will be “the first major joint protest action since the 2025 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections”, and is strategically timed to precede the civic polls.


While the Opposition’s united front had put up a rocking performance well in the parliamentary elections, the alliance was rattled in the Assembly polls six months later.


Many leaders have openly cried foul and attributed the setback to alleged discrepancies in the electoral process, including voter list anomalies.


However, last month the issue gained national prominence after Congress’s Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s mega-exposé alleging large-scale riggings of voter lists.


His revelations suddenly energized parties across the country to scrutinize electoral rolls more closely and campaign for transparency in the voting process, pointed out Opposition leaders.


A senior Shiv Sena (UBT) functionary noted that earlier Opposition campaigns questioning the integrity of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and VVPAT systems were dismissed by the Election Commission, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and even the judiciary, which referred the matter back to the poll authorities.


However, Gandhi’s revelations in September appear to have reignited public debate, making it increasingly difficult for officials and ruling dispensation to ignore the allegations.


Following the Congress’s lead, leaders such as Aaditya Thackeray of Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackeray of the MNS have unveiled similar alleged cases of “vote theft” in various constituencies, pointing to what they call a deeper systemic problem.


Changed scenario

Unlike in 2019, when the Congress and undivided NCP had to persuade the Shiv Sena to join the MVA alliance, this time the initiative reportedly comes from the Thackeray cousins, with other allies enthusiastically backing the movement.


Earlier this month, delegations from the MVA and MNS met with state election officials to submit evidence of alleged irregularities, including duplicate names, multiple entries, false deletions, and incorrect addresses. The parties claim there could be ‘over one-crore suspicious entries’ in Maharashtra’s voter lists.


The alliance has made a single, pointed demand that “both state and central poll authorities rectify all discrepancies before conducting the elections to ensure transparency and fairness”.


Following Saturday’s march, Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS may approach the courts to seek directions to postpone the civic polls until all stakeholders are satisfied with the integrity of the voter lists.


March route

The Opposition protest march will begin at Dhobi Talao and conclude at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) - about 1-km - between 1-4 p.m.

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