Who is Rithika Sri? The first transgender umpire from Tamil Nadu redefining gender roles in Indian cricket

Rithika Sri has made history after becoming the first transgender umpire in cricket, marking a distinctive moment in Indian cricket and rewriting gender roles in the game. The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association had called for applications for their State Panel Umpire exams, making a remarkable change in the procedure by introducing an 'other' option in the gender category. TNCA's step may look small, but it opens up significant opportunities for people like Rithika Sri, who intend to make an impact in the game with their determination and grit. Who is Rithika Sri?

R. Rithika Sri is a transwoman from the city of Salem in Tamil Nadu. Born as R. Muthuraj, she holds a diploma in Mechanical Engineering and used to work in a call centre in Mohali.

Sri acquired a genuine interest in umpiring while watching the Indian Premier League. When the COVID-19 pandemic forced her to return home, she decided to become an umpire. Rithika Sri has been umpiring in Salem and Coimbatore since 2021. She transitioned in 2024 in Coimbatore and played a pivotal role in introducing the ‘other’ option in the gender category for TNCA’s State Panel Umpire exams.

Rithika Sri recalls facing discrimination at matches Rithika Sri also encountered challenges as a transgender umpire and revealed that she had been sent back from a cricket ground and faced hurtful remarks as well. “The first time in Coimbatore, I went to watch because they wanted me to get familiar with the new district, but I was denied entry, and there were hurtful comments. I went back home crying after an hour, but not before fighting back against them. People often accuse trans people of begging, but then, at the same time, they don’t allow us to pursue a dignified livelihood. Can’t a transperson become an umpire?” Sri said to The Hindu.

Rithika also expressed that she received immense support from the CDCA, with secretary R. Chandramouli and joint secretary K. Mahalingam holding a meeting to ensure that no venue would discriminate against her. She added that the CSCA secretary had also shifted matches from a venue that did not allow her.

The 31-year-old now intends to prove to society that a trans person can thrive in a multitude of fields and remains focused on clearing the TNCS exams and eventually the BCCI exams.