Dwaraka Ravi Teja Speaks Up on What Ails the System
MS Shanker
In my ongoing series to explore how Hyderabad cricket can reclaim its lost glory, I’ve had the privilege of speaking with several veterans who not only brought laurels to the state but also carried themselves with grace, integrity, and fierce independence. This week, I bring to you a candid conversation with Dwaraka Ravi Teja — a genuine allrounder, an uncorrupted voice, and a cricketer whose career reflects both excellence and resilience.
Ravi Teja’s cricketing story is rich with performances and even richer with hard-earned wisdom. The 37-year-old made his Ranji Trophy debut for Hyderabad, Maharashtra at Karad in 2006 and scored 84 as an opener in the only innings of the match. His last match was for Meghalaya against Gujarat at Rajkot, which ended with a 133 in the second innings.
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As a consistent performer in the Indian U-19 circuit, Teja caught early attention and later topped Hyderabad’s Ranji batting charts in only his second season, amassing 653 runs at an average nearing 60.
Teja played 78 first-class matches and scored 4722 runs with an unbeaten 204 as his highest. He struck 12 centuries and 22 half-centuries at 41.06. He also played 85 List A games and scored 2942 runs, and 89 T20 matches with 1618 runs to his credit.
Yet, his career hasn’t been without its setbacks and frustrations. One turning point came when he was unexpectedly dropped from the squad for the Moin-ud-Dowlah tournament. “I was told I would be in the team and they just wanted to try new players. But when the final list came out, I wasn’t even in the standbys,” he recalls. “That hurt. So, I decided to move and play for Andhra.”
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This wasn’t an impulsive decision. Teja had represented Hyderabad across every age group — from U-17 to U-25 — often as captain, and even spent two years in the Indian U-19 side. Still, when faced with what he saw as unjust treatment, he took his talents elsewhere. He went on to play three seasons each for Andhra and Meghalaya as a professional, on merit, not patronage.
Later, Teja returned to Hyderabad — not as a player, but as head coach. “It was a satisfying comeback,” he says. “I had a clear plan. The previous season saw 35-40 players represent the senior team. I wanted to create stability — no unnecessary changes unless someone was injured. We gave players the freedom to express themselves.”
Yet despite such efforts, Hyderabad cricket continues to languish. When asked why, Teja is blunt: “Too much interference from clubs and parents. That’s the rot.” He is especially critical of how some former players who got into administration have done more harm than good. “They’ve become greedy. They see the money flowing in from the BCCI and forget the game.”
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He explains that during his playing days, league cricket was competitive because the teams were run by professional institutions — banks, public sector units — that also offered employment. Today, rogue clubs and non-cricketers control the leagues, turning them into profit centers. “Scoring runs in these leagues creates a false sense of competence. But when these players step into Ranji cricket, they’re exposed. The standards are miles apart.”
His suggestion? A surgical clean-up. “Cut down the number of teams in the 3-day league — most of these so-called institution teams are fake. The HCA has become a den of corruption and nepotism. The State’s Anti-Corruption Board must act swiftly on the long-pending cases it has taken up. Ensure transparency in the selection process and appoint deserving candidates as selectors and coaches — that’s key to reviving HCA’s past glory. Also, give age-group teams more exposure tours,” he says. Teja doesn’t mince words — and he’s not playing politics. “We must name and shame the guilty. Only then can honest, deserving people take charge. Clean elections, real clubs, and honest cricketers in administration — that’s the foundation for revival.”
He also believes that increased exposure is key: “The HCA should send age-group teams on tours. That’s how you develop temperament. Not by inflating stats in sham leagues.”
Ravi Teja’s insights are grounded in lived experience — both as a player and a coach — and they reflect the deep frustration of a generation that has seen Hyderabad cricket fall from grace. This is the voice of someone who has nothing to gain from flattery and everything to offer through honesty.
In the end, the way forward isn’t mysterious. The steps are clear: transparency, accountability, professional management, and tough decisions. The only question is: Does anyone in power have the courage to listen?
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