top of page

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.

The Enchanting Fest

From commandos to judges and actors to athletes—voices united to spark a revolution in the youth.

One of Asia's biggest festivals, conducted annually by St Xavier’s College, the Malhar Fest, concluded on a high note on 16th August. Musician Chaar Diwari’s concert was the perfect finale act to conclude the power-packed fest. This was the 46th edition of the fest and was held on 14, 15, and 16 of August, 2025. It was a perfect three-day fest, with rain pouring down heavily almost every day, but it did not hold the crowd back from attending the fest. The crowd's energy was in tandem with the rain, making the fest more zestful.


The Malhar Fest is the flagship fest of St Xavier's College and is the much-awaited fest of the year. This year, the theme was ‘The World Within’. When people focus on the outside world, the Malhar Fest, through its theme, reminds us that the world within is what makes the world outside us. With a workforce of around 700–800 students from various courses across the college, they came together to execute the Malhar Fest, setting yet another benchmark in the inter-collegiate festivals. The fest consisted of engaging events, inspiring conclave sessions, interactive workshops, and a high-powered concert. Performing arts and literary arts were the two main domains under which various events were conducted.


The Conclave Session

The theme, ‘Leher: Ripple Today, A Revolution Tomorrow’, of the Conclave session invites us to focus on one of the main aspects of youth’s personality, which is to innovate and create a ripple, empowering a change in society. The conclave session was held on the 15th and 16th of August. The speakers’ list was a perfect blend of personalities, from backgrounds like acting, law, sports, business, and authorship.


On the first day, the keynote address was delivered by Dr. Seema Rao, a revolutionary, the first and only woman commando trainer, “The Wonder Woman of India”. While sharing her life experiences, she instilled the traits of fearlessness, discipline, endurance, etc., into the youth present there. She focused on the hardships of life and delivered a thoughtfully curated speech aligning with the theme.


This session was followed by the session of the glamorous star cast of ‘Saare Jahan se Accha’, Pratik Gandhi, Anup Soni, Kritika Kamra, and Sunny Hinduja; their presence elated the atmosphere of the session.

The actors discussed college life and the struggles faced while pursuing their careers. Next to this session was SaiyamiKher’s session. Known for her extravagant roles in films, the St. Xavier’s College alumna talked about her journey and how college life at St. Xavier’s helped her navigate her work life.

Then came the entrepreneurial session with the founders of Benne Dosa, Akhil Iyer and Shriya Narayan. They conversed about taking risks in life and failure being a part of everyone’s life.


The concluding session of Day 1 was ironically the first sports session in Malhar’s history, with the panel consisting of Anmol Mazumdar (Head Coach of the Indian Women's Cricket Team), Bhagyashree Jadhav (a para-athlete and Paralympian), and Suma Shirur, a shooter (2004 Olympic finalist). They exchanged views on the woman’s role in the sports field. They mentioned the role of sports in their lives and how it taught them the hardest lessons of life.


Adding more energy to the atmosphere, the fest also witnessed the stellar performance of the star cast of the upcoming film, ‘Param Sundari’, Janhvi Kapoor and Siddharth Malhotra. The stars were present there to promote their film.


Day 2 started with the keynote address by Honourable Justice Revati Mohite Dere. Her words of wisdom left an everlasting impact on the youth. Speaking under the theme, she explicitly talked about the role of the judiciary in shaping society. Furthermore, she added that ‘impact’ is a critical part of revolution.


The main session of the day was with the politician, SupriyaSule, who spoke extensively on the topic of policy-making and also interacted with the youth in the audience. She highlighted that “policy making is an opportunity to change people's lives”. She encouraged the young leaders to consider politics as a career field and lead a revolution themselves if needed. The last two sessions were with the author Ashwin Sanghi and Aditya Roy Kapur, a Bollywood actor. Author Ashwin Sanghi, also an alumnus, spoke about the power of writing and storytelling. Aditya Roy Kapur, while offering insights into the world of cinema, also interacted with the audience by answering their questions.


The conclave team did an excellent job in curating and selecting the perfect speakers for the session that not only influenced the youth but also deeply resonated with this year’s theme. The fest was orchestrated and presented beautifully by the Malhar team. The exuberant crowd made this fest more engaging and youthful, raising the expectations for next year.


(The writer is a student in a college in Mumbai.)

Comments

bottom of page