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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.

Royal Swagger

As Maharashtra gears up for a pivotal assembly election, the state’s Maratha royals are emerging as influential players, reinvigorating their legacy and political relevance. From Kolhapur’s Ghatge and Chhatrapatis to the warring Bhosales of Satara, these regal figures are turning heads and wielding clout —whether in switching political camps, drawing massive crowds, or resolving high-stakes disputes over candidate nominations. Their involvement reflects both tradition and strategic electoral recalibration. While the jury is out as to their ability to tip the electoral balance, they certainly are in the reckoning in the November 20 battle.


In September, Samarjeet Ghatge, a BJP leader and a descendant of the Kagal royal family, known for his close ties with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, turned his coat to Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (SP) with considerable fanfare.


Ghatge has been seething ever since his arch-rival Hasan Mushrif, a cabinet minister and another key member in the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, aligned himself with the ruling Mahayuti coalition in wake of Ajit’s rebellion. Ghatge and Mushrif have been daggers drawn for a long time when the latter was part of the undivided NCP. Their feud is well-known in Kolhapur. Now, with Ghatge on the MVA’s side, Mushrif, as the ruling Mahayuti’s candidate, finds his 25-year grip over Kagal seriously challenged.


Meanwhile, another dramatic about-face was witnessed in Kolhapur within the MVA coalition, as it nominated Madhurima Raje Chhatrapati, daughter-in-law of Kolhapur’s Congress MP Shahu Chhatrapati, over its previous candidate Rajesh Latkar. After tensions among Congress workers culminated in protests and vandalism, the decision to field Madhurima—a name carrying weight and sway—demonstrates the MVA’s effort to leverage royal clout for electoral gain. This nomination showcases the Congress’ acknowledgement of the potential impact of royal bloodlines to bolster voter confidence and minimize intra-party discord.

Earlier, in the Lok Sabha election, when the MVA lacked a suitable candidate in Kolhapur, it was Sharad Pawar who managed to get Shahu Chhatrapati to contest on the Congress symbol. The result was a resounding win for the Maratha royal.


A most intriguing role is being played by Shahu II’s son - Yuvraj Sambhaji Raje Chhatrapati. After his Rajya Sabha stint, Sambhaji Raje, an influential voice in the Maratha reservation agitation, formed the Swarajya Sangathan and has thrown in his lot with the ‘Parivartan Mahashakti Aghadi’ - a formidable alliance of Maharashtra’s smaller yet influential factions which include Raju Shetti’s Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana and Bacchu Kadu’s Prahar Janshakti Party among others.


The PMA has now emerged as a viable ‘third front’, poised to eat into votes of the ruling and opposition coalitions.


In Satara, the descendants of Chhatrapati Shivaji— Udayanraje and Shivendraraje Bhosale (both in the ruling BJP)—continue to capture public attention. Udayanraje, who won the Lok Sabha contest this time, will now be expected to support his rival, Shivendraraje, who is seeking re-election from the Satara Assembly segment for the fourth consecutive time. The duo is notorious for their turbulent and at times fractious rivalry, their dramatic familial feuds and equally dramatic public reconciliations.


With Maharashtra’s upcoming election touted to shape the state’s future, the re-emergence of Maratha royals as kingmakers signals a calculated nod to heritage and electoral might. The Maratha royals, it seems this time, are not only guardians of the past but also architects of the state’s political landscape.

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