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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.

Rolls-Royce, IIT-B ink strategic tech pact

Mumbai: The Rolls-Royce and Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B) have signed a pact to foster knowledge exchange, drive innovation and together develop future-ready engineering talent, officials said here.

 

The move, which underscores the growing synergy between Indian academic institutions and global industry leaders, will allow IIT-B students to get internship opportunities with Rolls-Royce’ defence engineering team in Bengaluru, plus gain exposure to advanced tech development in modern day real-world industrial settings.

 

This collaboration also aims to open doors for joint research projects, skill-building programmes, and technology co-creation in areas of mutual interest, said the officials.

 

The agreement was signed by IIT-B’s Dean (Research & Development) Prof. Sachin C. Patwardhan and Rolls-Royce India Executive Vice-President G. S. Selwyn, in the presence of the Rolls-Royce Director of Business Development and Future Programmes (UK & International) Alex Zino, besides senior representatives from both sides.

 

“The partnership with IIT-B reflects our broader commitment to building strategic collaborations that advance shared ambitions in innovation, talent development, and technology leadership,” said Selwyn on the occasion.

 

He said that as his company deepens its engagement with India, initiatives such as this would “help unlock new opportunities to co-create solutions,” through structured engagement between the academic and industrial ecosystems.

 

The second oldest in India, IIT-B at Powai was established in 1958 and ranks among the  premier engineering institutions, world-renowned for producing top-tier graduates and groundbreaking research in multiple streams.

 

It has consistently ranked among the best engineering universities in Asia and recognised for its strong industry linkages, state-of-the-art research facilities, and a vibrant culture of innovation.

 

IIT-B has multiple Centres of Excellence, fostering advances in fields ranging from aerospace engineering to AI and sustainability, and its alumni have gone on to captain global technology companies, research institutions, and government bodies.

 

Started as a luxury car manufacturing company some 120 years ago in the United Kingdom, today Rolls-Royce is a global leader in power and propulsion technologies serving markets ranging from civil and defence aerospace to marine engineering.

 

Years ago, Rolls-Royce had supplied engines for the Indian Air Force’s first combat aircraft, the Jaguar, and other fighter planes. The company’s Bengaluru engineering centre is a hub for innovation in defence aerospace delivering solutions for both Indian and international programmes.

 

Experts consider the new partnership ‘crucial’ as India’s engineering and technological ecosystem is in a transformative stage, driven by a push for indigenous capability development and supported by a growing pool of highly talented engineers.

 

“Such collaborations between IIT-B and Rolls-Royce are viewed as essential to narrow the gap between academic research and industrial applications, enhance talent readiness and accelerate the translation of theoretical breakthroughs into deployable technologies,” remarked a technocrat.

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