Indore's Nidhi and Ritika Buley, along with V Kritika and Ankita Guha, have achieved a historic milestone by securing positions on the BCCI umpires' panel. As retired female cricketers, their selection is a significant step towards promoting gender representation in cricket.
The rigorous selection criteria required candidates to score above 120 marks out of 150, and both Nidhi and Ritika surpassed expectations, scoring 133.5 and 133 marks, respectively. With these additions, the total number of BCCI-empanelled women umpires has now reached seven, signaling progress toward gender inclusivity in the sport.
Notably, Vrinda Rathi, N Janani, and V Gayathari broke barriers earlier this year by becoming the first-ever women umpires to officiate in the prestigious Ranji Trophy, providing a pathway for more opportunities for women in umpiring.
For Nidhi and Ritika, their selection represents a remarkable moment in their post-playing careers. Inspired by the renowned cricketer-turned-umpire Nitin Menon, who is the sole Indian in the ICC elite panel, both Nidhi and Ritika aspire to represent India in the umpiring world.
Ritika, who is 31 years old, has set her sights on officiating in both men's and women's games. Her ultimate goal is to become a top-tier umpire. Her vision includes breaking the barriers in the male-dominated territory of umpiring and promoting inclusivity within the sport. During her playing days, Nidhi relocated from Madhya Pradesh to Jharkhand and later represented Jharkhand during her umpiring exam.
The inclusion of Nidhi, Ritika, V Kritika, and Ankita Guha in the BCCI umpires' panel is a testament to the growing opportunities for women in cricket and signifies progress toward gender equality in the sport. The devotion and enthusiasm shown by these individuals towards cricket are sure to motivate numerous women aspiring to become umpires to follow their dreams and aid in the advancement and expansion of cricket across the globe.
