India's First Trans Woman Cricket Umpire Takes the Field

When security guards blocked Rithika Sri from entering a cricket ground in Coimbatore, she had every credential needed to officiate the match inside. What she didn't have, in their eyes, was permission to exist in that space as her authentic self.

That moment could have ended her dream. Instead, the 31-year-old from Salem pushed forward and made history as India's first trans woman cricket umpire.

Rithika's journey began unexpectedly in 2019 while working at a BPO company in Punjab. Watching an IPL match late one night, she found herself captivated not by the players but by the umpires, their calm authority, their decisive presence on the field.

She researched the pathway and discovered a clear ladder: district panel, state panel, BCCI panel. When the pandemic forced her back to Salem, she tracked down Jayaraman, chairman of the local umpire committee, and asked for a chance.

For months, she trained while hiding her gender identity, terrified that revealing her truth would cost her the only professional dream she'd allowed herself. Jayaraman's wife eventually noticed and gently broke the silence.

His response changed everything. If the government extended opportunities to transgender people, why wouldn't he? He encouraged Rithika to build her qualifications, transition when ready, and return to the field.

In 2024, after gender-affirming surgery, Rithika returned to cricket. A crucial institutional change made her comeback possible: the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association had added an "Other" gender category to its umpire examination application.

That administrative checkbox, small on paper, opened a door that had been locked for people like her.

Why This Inspires

Rithika's story isn't just about one person breaking barriers. Her presence on the field is already shifting how players, officials, and spectators think about who belongs in cricket.

When security turned her away that day in Coimbatore, the Cricket Association intervened immediately. They made clear she deserved the same respect as any umpire on their panel.

The players adapted quickly. "Cricketers call me 'ma'am,'" Rithika says. "I am happy and grateful."

Raised by a single mother alongside six siblings, Rithika now officiates matches organized by local clubs, corporates, and district associations across Salem, Namakkal, and Coimbatore. On the field, she's known for the very qualities that first drew her to umpiring: calm, firm, unshakeable judgment.

Her ambitions stretch beyond Tamil Nadu to state recognition, the BCCI panel, and eventually the IPL and international stages. The longest distances are covered one decision at a time, whether it's a raised finger signaling an out or the daily act of showing up as exactly who you are.