New Delhi: As the Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian team gears up to take on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) women’s team in their second fixture of the ongoing Women’s Asia Cup T20 2024 on Sunday, there is one Indian couple who will be closely keeping an eye on the UAE team.
Rajith Kumar and Ranjini Rajith from Kerala’s Wayanad district will see their three daughters – Rithika, Rinitha and Rishitha – compete against their country of origin. The troika of sisters will make history if all of them make it to the playing XI of UAE.
The Rajith sisters can be the first set of three siblings in women’s T20 Internationals to play for a particular team. According to cricket statistician Mohandas Menon, as quoted by Gulf News, ‘sisters Essie Shevill, Fernie and Rene have played for Australia in Tests, but never together’.
Rinitha, the middle one among the three sisters, has the most T20Is caps, having featured in 35 matches from March 2022 onwards. She bats in the lower middle order for UAE, but was elevated to bat at No.3 during their Asia Cup opener against Nepal women this week. The 18-year-old also offers right-arm medium pace, though she doesn’t roll her arms regularly. Both Rithika and Rishitha are yet to make an impact with the UAE women’s team and this continental event serves as a platform for them.
Rithika, the eldest at 23, and Rishitha, the youngest at 17, have an experience of seven and two T20Is, respectively. Rishitha didn’t make it to the playing XI against Nepal but could join her sisters in their match against India at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium if the selectors give her the nod.
Which team will their parents root for in this match? The pair remains split with one opting to support India and the other for UAE for the sake of their daughters.
“Teamwise, she may support Indian team but then individually she may be interested in kids. For me, it’s the other way around. I support UAE,” Rajith Kumar, the father told News9Live in an exclusive interview.
Rajith sisters’ shift from badminton to cricket
The Rajith sisters started their sporting journeys in badminton as they used to compete in UAE’s national league after they played in age-group levels in Kerala.
“Rinitha and Rishitha played in 2016 and were No.1 and No.2 in Kerala badminton. After that I could not bring them. They were Calicut district champions in singles U-11 Rinitha (singles) and both doubles champion. They played state tournament from Calicut because Wayanad there were very less participants for girls. I thought they should have good competition so I enrolled them in Calicut (Kozhikode),” the father said.
They became regulars in UAE’s national badminton league in the following years until the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world up and down. The Rajith sisters couldn’t find any action due to indoor facilities getting shut in UAE. Their father, who played cricket for Wayanad district during his playing days, wanted his kids to try a new sport.
He became their first coach in 2021, starting with the basics of the game. He made them practice meticulously under his watch before enrolling them into development camp in UAE, and further into the national camp. Gradually, the Rajith sisters honed their skills at the national camp, from where the path paved for them for the national team turn by turn.
Why didn’t these three Indian-origin players opted to don the Blue shirts? Not that they weren’t ready to hustle and bustle in the Indian domestic circuit in order to climb the ladder for the national side but it was more about utilising the same time to gain some international exposure, it coupled with the development of the game in the gulf nation.
“Definitely, they were all dreaming for that (playing for India in internationals) but there were many restrictions. When they comeback here they have resting period of 3-5 years. Yeah (didn’t wanted to waste their time here), we didn’t know where they will take us now,” explained Rajith Kumar, who moved to UAE in 2005 from Kerala.
Favourite cricketers of Rajith sisters?
Rithika and Rishitha have been an avid fan of former South Africa pacer Shabnim Ismail’s speed apart from Indian men’s team all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s brilliance. Rishita is also fond of star batter Virat Kohli. Meanwhile, Rinitha is a fan of Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, Sri Lanka women’s team captain Chamari Athapaththu, and West Indies flamboyant all-rounder Hayley Matthews.
The trio still plays badminton in their leisure time in order to keep their connection stronger with the shuttle sport. They have embarked on the journey of a team sport, and only time, the mightiest of all has the best say going forward on where they stand.
For their parents, it’s a dream on the flourishing mode as all the pressure and sacrifices will come to fruition someday. Rajith credits his wife Ranjini, who drove the kids to training, matches, school, office in his absence besides maintaining healthy family bond.
Rajith personally is gleeful with his decision to switch the sporting career of his daughters even though he didn’t receive the initial backing around his own surroundings. Nevertheless, the parents will be glued to their television screens on Sunday when Harmanpreet walks out for the toss with her younger counterpart Esha Oza.
News9Live caught up with Rajith Kumar ahead of India vs UAE Women’s Asia Cup clash. Rajith is the father of UAE cricketers Rithika, Rinitha and Rishitha from Indian origin. The three sisters have moved from badminton to cricket just three years ago. Know their complete story with us. Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
