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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.

Time to say “Speak to me in Marathi”

Mumbai: “Mi Marathit bolnar. Majhyashi Marathit bolayche!” (I will speak in Marathi. Speak to me in Marathi!)


Anand Bhandare
Anand Bhandare

The banners raised in many parts of Worli bearing this ‘pledge’ are turning a lot of heads nowadays. Written in Marathi, they seem to sending a resolute message to onlookers that one takes an immense pride in speaking in Marathi and others should respect it by conversing with him in the same language.


The banners have been put up by Anand Bhandare, the official of Marathi Abhyas Kendra – an organisation which has been on the forefront of a statewide agitation against the imposition of Hindi in primary schools in Maharashtra. The posters also bear the name of Bhandare and his organisation, along with his personal phone number, on it.


The banners can be seen at many prominent places in Worli like Jambori Maidan, Worli Naka and others. In the backdrop of recent incidents that triggered allegations of mistreatment towards the Marathi language and local people, they have become the talk of the town, attracting a great deal of attention and interest from the viewers.


“This is my small effort to promote and spread our language,” said Bhandare while speaking to ‘The Perfect Voice.’ “The first sentence is my pledge and since I am firm on it, I have given it a full stop. It means there is no compromise on it. The second sentence is my expectation from the other person (who may be Marathi or non-Marathi) and therefore I have given it an exclamation mark. If I have expectations from the other person, I have to be first firm on my stand. That is the prerequisite.”


When asked what made him to go for this innovative concept, Bhandare said, “Someone may ask how appropriate it is to do such banner-making for the promotion and propagation of a mother tongue in our own state. But for the past several decades, we and our earlier generations have ‘generously’ avoided speaking in Marathi and we are suffering the consequences of it. Otherwise, no one would have been beaten up or there would have been no fights over speaking in Marathi in Mumbai.”


More in festive season

Bhandare stated that he is planning to spread this message to more people in the upcoming festive season. “We are planning to appeal the mandals of Dahi Handi, Ganpati and Navratri festivals to promote the use of Marathi language. This slogan can be used on T-shirts in Dahihandi. The posters can also be put up in the pavilions during Navratri and Ganeshotsav. Its stickers can be put up in trains, societies, taxis and rickshaws,” he said.


The activist expressed satisfaction that the idea has struck a cord of Marathi people, who are becoming more aware of their language. “One of our activists Ghanshyam Detke has also put up such banners in Kandivali. Others are planning to raise banners in Mulund and Chembur. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised to find that a Vadapav vendor woman in Thane has put up a banner on her stall insisting on customers to speak in Marathi,” he added.


However, as the ‘Marathi Bola’ movement is gaining momentum, there is an equal amount of opposition to it from the other side. Therefore, it is necessary to emphasise on this viewpoint, the activist added.

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