By J.Hari Shankar and Adyar Times team
Tamil Nadu cricketer, Niranjana Nagarajan recently announced her retirement from all forms of cricket. The talented right-arm fast-medium bowler made her junior India debut in 2005 and senior India in 2008, after showcasing her skills in domestic cricket for Tamil Nadu and impressing in both India’s Under-21 team and the Asia Cup. She balanced her cricket career with a job at Indian Railways, where she continues to hone her craft. Starting her journey at 10 years, she rightfully earned her name as ‘Ninja’ of women’s cricket. She has played 2 Tests, 22 ODIs and 14 T20s (including 3 World Cups) for India with an economy of 2.41, 4.18 and 5.22 respectively. Adyar Times caught up with the ‘Ninja’ to know more…
How did cricket and sports happen to you?
Being a naughty child, I was often tied to the window, where I saw the boys playing cricket. Soon I saw myself playing with them on the street. It gradually became a significant part of my life without me realising its broader professional scope. I probably acquired my aggressive style of bowling by playing this ‘gully’ cricket. You know, when you play with boys and you lose, they will make fun of you till your next win. It started as fun but ended up contributing to my style.
Is that how you got your nickname ‘Ninja’?
My Tamil Nadu teammates first called me ‘Ninja’. Over time, this nickname became widely recognised in the cricketing world. Today, everyone in the cricket fraternity knows me by this nickname.
How has women’s cricket evolved?
Women’s cricket merged with the BCCI in 2006 and we are grateful for that. But I am very happy that I belong to both generations. Previously, travel and stay were difficult; financially also it was not big, unlike now. Cricket mattered most and we looked forward to playing with all our hard work and teamwork. I value the benefits of today because I know the struggles of yesterday. The improved conditions only motivated me to perform better.
On the training aspect as well, a lot has changed. Previously we only did warm-up and running. Now it is very professional, with an emphasis on fitness. There is now a variety of training techniques and diets specific to the skills of the player. Each player also has a personal trainer to guide them on it. Imagine 30+ players also have to compete with 20 or 25-year-olds.
On the recognition side, now people recognise me when I go out. It is gladdening to note that just like MSD and Kohli are household names, Harmanpreet, Mitali Raj and Smriti Mandana are also household names. WPL has also revolutionised women’s cricket and I look forward to more franchises coming up next season.
Has there been a shift in perspective about women playing cricket?
Despite being an orthodox family, my parents were very supportive. My grandmother was the one who insisted that I pursue my dream in sports. My father was a keen observer of women’s cricket and researched what I needed to do to better my prospects. My mother took care of my education and diet. Every time I felt low, I spoke with my grandmother and she pepped me up.
There are however many other girls who are not as lucky as me, especially in the countryside. With the success of WPL, scouting teams are seeing a lot of talent emerge from the villages. This year, I got to know that for the upcoming Freyer Cup, the number of teams has increased from 6 to 8. Opportunities have increased. Thus my humble request to the parents is that if your child is talented, please let the child pursue the sport. You never know if the child can become the next Mitali Raj tomorrow (or a Ninja)!
How was your debut experience?
In 2008, it was a poignant moment for me when my name was not there in the top 15 initially. Meanwhile, my sister’s wedding was scheduled at that time and amid the ceremonies, I got a call to join the national team as a replacement for Rumeli Dhar, who got injured. It’s been a bittersweet experience—fulfilling a dream while missing a cherished family event. Such moments remind me of the unpredictable nature of opportunities in life.
After that experience, I was part of the national team intermittently but became a consistent part of it from 2012 onwards.
Who is the most feared team?
Australia are the world champions. They are the toughest opponent, but the Indian team nowadays is no less. We are continuing to win series and tournaments. The current team is too talented and their shots are very good. Australian cricketer Meg Lanning is my favourite cricketer.
We haven’t seen you in the national arena since 2016. What happened?
I played my last national game at the 2016 World Cup. It happens with every player; everyone has their peaks. From 2012 to 2016, I was the opening bowling partner with Jhulan Goswami for India. This is not in my control. Irrespective, my domestic performance was good and my hard work continued.
How do you feel about being an opener in the Tamilnadu team but batted in the middle order in the national team?
I got into the Indian team as a fast bowler. While I would have loved to bat at the top order, however, in each team our role differs. The national team has a heavy-packed top order and when people say ‘Ninja’, they think of me as a fast bowler. The Tamilnadu team and the Indian Railways believe in me as a batter, and I have opened for them till the last season. I enjoyed opening the bowling with Jhulan. It’s a different kind of feeling to be a fast bowler and I am very proud of it.
Why retire now?
The decision was incredibly difficult, weighing on my mind for the past month and a half. Eventually, I reached a point where I knew I couldn’t continue giving my absolute best. For me, that signalled it was time to retire. I take pride in knowing I gave my best throughout my career. Now, I look forward to sharing my knowledge and experience with the future Indian team.
Where can we see Ninja now?
I have not yet decided. I am currently a commentator with Jio Cinema. Definitely, you will be seeing me somewhere close to cricket in the corners.
May I ask about your husband?
Srinath Suresh is also a cricketer. We met at the MAC-Spin Foundation. He has been a pillar of support and guided me since 2012 in improving my performance in competitive cricket. Along with him, my dear friend Vilasini, who is also a BCCI Level 2 coach, played a major role over the last 5 to 6 years in guiding me to perform my best in the domestic circuit.
What message do you have for the girls of the neighbourhood?
I firmly believe that sports offer valuable lessons that complement academics. It builds your character and makes you stronger and mature. I have had so many amazing victories and heart-breaking losses, and I have seen how people around me react to that. Sports give you the maturity to understand what criticism to give importance to and what to just brush aside. So I advise girls to take up sports of any form. If you have complete focus and commitment to the sport, you will surely be noticed. I do look forward to seeing more girls from Tamilnadu in the cricketing arena. Tamilnadu Cricket Board and Indian Railways are also doing a lot for women’s cricket.
Niranjana’s message resonates with a call for more opportunities and support for female players, aiming to inspire a new generation of sporting stars. She is a resident of Thiruvanmiyur. Check out more about her at her Instagram handle @niranjananagarajan.
