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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.

Rain: Soul-Stirring and Earth-Renewing

Rain arrives as a paradoxical adventure—calm yet chaotic, beautiful yet messy, bringing both joy and discomfort. It comes to end the drought, restore hope, and begin healing.

After the dry, scorching summer, the long-awaited monsoon arrives in full force. The very first shower brings relief, joy, and rejuvenation, refreshing both body and spirit.


As the raindrops touch the parched land, the fragrance of wet mud rises, awakening child-like excitement. What a beautiful, fragrant perfume surfacing from Mother Earth, which comforts everyone.


The sight of raindrops falling down the window, the rhythmic patter of rain on rooftops, rippling puddles, occasional rolling, noisy thunder, and flashy lightning painting the sky heightens the thrill of the season. The brown, dry landscape turns into a vibrant green. Umbrellas are all over the street, blooming like flowers. The sight is truly breathtaking!


The world outside is soaked, drenched, and shivering, but inside, there is warmth in a thick blanket, dim lights turning nostalgic for childhood days. Days we spent playing in the rain, splashing muddy water, sailing paper boats in little streams, moments spent with family on a veranda, steaming food cooked by Mom, power cuts, candlelight dinners, all sitting together during torrential rain, all back then symbolically reflecting togetherness and joy. The rain stirs up deep emotions, sometimes turning solitude into peace rather than loneliness.


Monsoon is incomplete without special savouryflavours like a steaming cup of tea, crispy pakoras, hot bhutta (roasted corn), spicy samosas, and more. Every bite seems tastier when enjoyed with a view of rainfall. Alongside soulful conversations with family and loved ones, it reminds us that the monsoon is not just about showers, but it is about togetherness. It brings back memories of childhood, a sense of freedom and joy, a time when life was simpler and carefree.


Nature celebrates with lush greenery, rivers swelling, trees dancing to the breeze, and the sky with an ever-changing mood. Everything comes alive, reminding us of the power and beauty of nature. It invites us to feel deeply and find beauty in every little thing.


Though sometimes chaotic with incessant rain leading to waterlogged roads, power cuts, flash floods, landslides, and traffic disruptions, the monsoon is never dull. It leads to a slower pace of life and more time spent indoors, but teaches us to appreciate simpler pleasures. It is an adventure – a blend of calm and chaos, beauty and mess, joy and discomfort. It reflects life's essential truth that after every drought, there is rain, so there is hope after every crisis. After every struggle, there is healing.


As Mother Earth takes time to be nourished and bloom again, we too need time to grow, bloom, and shine.


In essence, monsoon subtly demands us to slow down and break the maddening cycle of busy life, not by force but by nature's gentle reminder to take a pause, to take a moment, and to remember that life is not only about rushing – it is about savouring.


When our mind slows down, the body heals, and the soul feels alive – all three acts in synchronisation. It is not just a weather change but an invitation to realign with yourself, find joy in the present, and begin again with fresh hopes.


Let this monsoon not just touch and drench the depth of the earth but touch and awaken the depth of the heart and soul. May it embrace us with mindfulness, warmth, compassion, and gratitude, bringing life within us and making us richer in beautiful, soulful memories. Make it an annual celebration of nature, its power, beauty, and rhythm, creating mesmerising memories soaked in wonder.Have a wonderful, exhilarating experience this monsoon!


(The writer is an educator based in Thane.)

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