From secret training to BCCI aspirations: Meet India’s first trans woman umpire
Salem, Tamil Nadu: Rithika Sri once trained in secret, afraid that revealing her identity would end her cricket dream. Today, she stands on the field as India’s first trans woman cricket umpire, officiating domestic matches with her sights set on the BCCI panel.
Growing up in Salem, Rithika played cricket through school and college but stepped away after beginning her transition. She feared rejection from the sport she loved and for years kept her training private, studying the laws of the game while working to support herself.
Her entry into umpiring began through district-level certification courses. Colleagues and players initially questioned her presence, and she faced closed gates at grounds where officials were unsure how to respond. With support from local cricket bodies and LGBTQIA+ advocates, she completed her qualifications and started officiating matches in Tamil Nadu’s league circuit.
Players now describe her as calm, decisive, and thorough in her knowledge of the rulebook. “I just want to be judged on my calls, not my identity,” Rithika said. She has officiated men’s and women’s matches and is working toward the criteria needed for BCCI panel eligibility. Her journey comes at a time when Indian sport is slowly opening to trans athletes and officials.
Advocates say her presence challenges bias and creates visibility for others who have left sport due to stigma. Rithika hopes her story pushes associations to adopt clearer inclusion policies and encourages trans youth to stay in sport. “For years I thought I had to choose between cricket and myself. I was wrong. You can have both,” she said.
