South Africa's first female commentator is bound to leave everyone impressed

Cricket has always been revered as a gentleman’s game. The adage has had such a great impact on the minds that the ladies rarely get the right share of their admiration for their work. Among the many facets of the game where the contribution of the ladies has gone unnoticed is the commentary world. But now, the times are changing and South Africa’s first female commentator, Kasturi Naidoo, is making some serious progress in the field.

Kasturi Naidoo, fondly known as Kass Naidoo, wishes to be a television commentator. She has her roots in Vizag, Andhra Pradesh in India. Her grandparents had moved to Durban long time ago. As per the quotes in Mid Day, Kasturi reflected back at the time when she realized what she wanted to do in her life.

Being in India would not have helped. Harsha Bhogle is the only non-cricketer contracted for television commentary in India. Kasturi Naidoo recalled that it was hearing Donna Symmonds that fascinated her to follow her passion.

“I was 14. I heard Donna Symmonds commentate in a series in South Africa and something grabbed my heart. For the first time I felt connected to a game I had never quite understood before. Although I encountered cricket on TV, it was always middle-aged white men talking about the sport. Then came this beautiful Barbadian accent, soft, in control, authoritative. I turned to my mum and said that’s it. I’ve found my dream. I want to be South Africa’s first female cricket commentator,” quoted Kasturi Naidoo.

Following the game in detail

Once she figured out what her dream was, she started following the game up and close. Kasturi Naidoo has been following the game ever since the age of 14. She recalled how she would sit under the scorecards and watch the game for long hours after school.

“Once I found my love for cricket, all I wanted to do was become a student of the game. From 14, all I did was learn about the game. I would leave school early, go to Kingsmead, sit under the big scoreboard and watch whatever cricket that was played. I just studied the game as much as possible with the help of my brother,” she quoted.

She worked really hard to attain her goal. The dots started to get connected and she worked for over a decade in the field. She was chosen as the face of the World Cup in the year 2003. That was the turning point in her career. She became the first woman to host a post-match press conference. The fans and the cricket world seemed very welcoming.

“I had worked for 11 years at this by the time I was discovered at SABC as someone who wanted to do this. I was well prepared. I felt like I had done a decade of work. It was difficult for some people to accept that I was chosen as the face of the World Cup in 2003, but for me it was a no-brainer,” Naidoo remarked.

“I made my debut in 2003, and soon I became the first woman to host a post-match press conference. Conditions were conducive for change, and I was ready for the challenge, ready to grab the opportunity,” she added.

The big challenge now

Now, Kasturi Naidoo has a big challenge ahead. Well, the challenge is on the personal front. Her young 8-year old son, who is going to turn 9 soon, wants to meet Virat Kohli. Also, he wishes to be in India in order to hone his spin bowling skills. On his last birthday, her son Daniel wished to meet AB de Villiers. And he had his wish fulfilled and even got a signed bat from the South African master.

“For his 8th birthday he wanted to meet AB de Villiers and that happened and he got his bat signed and a photo. Now I’m under pressure. He’s urging me to move to India so he can get better at bowling leg spin. The IPL has had such an impact on him that he thinks he can learn a lot more about cricket by just being there,” Kasturi Naidoo conceded.

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