Thiruvananthapuram’s Role as WC Venue to Elevate Women’s Cricket in Kerala: KCA Representative

Thiruvananthapuram, March 26 (NationPress) The announcement that the 50-over Women’s World Cup will take place in India from September 29 to October 26 has brought immense joy, especially with Thiruvananthapuram being selected as one of the five venues for this prestigious event.

This will mark the inaugural hosting of women’s international cricket at the Thiruvananthapuram Greenfield Stadium. The final match will be held at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Stadium in Punjab, with other venues including Vishakhapatnam, Raipur, and Indore.

The journey of women’s cricket in Kerala began modestly in the late seventies, when it was challenging to gather 15 players. Today, the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) is actively promoting women’s cricket, with teams across various age groups including under-15, under-19, under-23, and senior levels.

Niketha Ramankutty, a former state cricketer and the current chairperson of the Kerala Women’s Cricket selection team, expressed to IANS that this announcement has generated significant excitement among women’s cricket enthusiasts in Kerala.

“Women from Kerala are breaking barriers in various fields, and cricket is no exception. In our time, we faced opposition from our own families. However, the current generation of girls enjoys tremendous support from their families, which is a remarkable change,” remarked Ramankutty.

So far, five women from Kerala have made their mark on the Indian team: Minnu Mani, Asha, Sajna, Joshita, and Najla. Among them, Najla and Joshita represented the India U-19 national team, while the others have played for the senior team.

Additionally, Arundhati Reddy, originally from Andhra Pradesh, has been a part of the senior Kerala women’s team for the last two years and has also worn the Indian jersey.

In a conversation with IANS, Vinod S.Kumar, secretary of the KCA, stated that being chosen as a host city for the upcoming 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup serves as a significant morale booster for women’s cricket and inspires young girls aspiring to represent the state and nation.

“With five players from the Kerala women’s team currently in the Indian squad, there’s palpable excitement among aspiring female cricketers, evidenced by the growing interest in coaching. The staging of an international women’s match here will undoubtedly increase this enthusiasm,” Kumar added.

Kumar also noted, “The KCA will adhere to the guidelines set forth by the BCCI regarding hosting responsibilities.”

Indian cricketer Sajna Sajeevan shared her surprise and excitement upon learning that her practice ground will host an international women’s match for the first time.

“I am thrilled, as hosting an ICC women’s event for the first time will motivate more young girls to pursue cricket. Interest has been rising over the years, and this will pave the way for easier opportunities,” Sajna told IANS.

India is hosting the Women’s World Cup for the first time since 2013, where they were eliminated in the group stage. They also hosted the women’s T20 World Cup in 2016. The format for the 2025 edition will mirror that of 2022, featuring eight teams competing in a total of 31 matches.