“Merit Is Dead”: Former Hyderabad All-Rounder Slams Rot in State Cricket
MS Shanker
As part of my continuing series, “How to Revive Hyderabad Cricket,” this week I sat down with one of the city’s most quietly impactful cricketers—M.V. Ramanamurthy. A gritty allrounder who played his cricket in the 1980s and early ’90s purely on merit, Ramanamurthy may not have worn the India cap, but his story—and his straight talk—offer a compelling window into how deep the rot runs in Hyderabad’s cricketing ecosystem, and what it will take to fix it.
Now 60, Ramanamurthy is no ordinary former Ranji cricketer. He played 36 first-class matches as well as 5 List A, for Hyderabad between 1986 and 1994, scoring 863 runs at a respectable average of 26 and picking up 64 wickets with his medium pace. His most legendary feat? Scoring a century batting at No. 10 to help his team clinch victory in the semis against Bihar in 1986—a rare distinction that places him in a league of his own. It’s the kind of cricketing grit that’s missing in the present setup.
Ramanamurthy rose through the ranks not by connections or convenience but through performance. He earned selections to both the Rest of India and South Zone teams, though not in the playing XI, purely on merit. His journey began with the state U-19 team in the late 1980s, where his aggressive batting and razor-sharp fielding made him a fan favourite. He led sides in various domestic leagues with distinction and quietly built a reputation as one of the most reliable and consistent players of his time.
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Yet, like many of his era, he carries the scars of a deeply flawed system. “Even while performing well, I was dropped,” he says with calm indignation. “Merit was never the only criterion. Nepotism was rampant.”
Ramanamurthy doesn’t mince words when assessing the current state of affairs. “Our own colleagues, instead of promoting the game, contributed to its ruin,” he says. “It’s a sad truth, but a naked one.”
His disillusionment isn’t just with the past—it’s with the present. When asked whether he believes merit is still being compromised in today’s selection process, his response is immediate: “Where is the doubt?”
Prodded on what the solution might be, he pauses. “You and I know the reasons,” he says cautiously. “Do you expect me to spell it out and court unnecessary controversy?”
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But the message is unmistakable. Without the right people in the right roles—people with integrity and no personal agendas—the game in Hyderabad has no future. “Give honest and capable people the responsibility. That’s the only way to revive Hyderabad cricket,” he says.
Ramanamurthy also points to the collapse of Hyderabad’s league system as a major red flag. “Tournaments are getting fewer and shorter. This is a disaster for budding talent,” he warns.
He blames poor planning and administrative apathy for the shrinking calendar, and urges the HCA to ensure that every club and player gets ample opportunities to play. “If players aren’t playing enough, how will they improve? How will selectors even spot them?”
When it comes to the root cause of Hyderabad cricket’s decline, Ramanamurthy’s answer is unequivocal: the affiliated clubs. “They’re calling the shots—not just in HCA elections, but also in team selections, coach appointments, and committee formations,” he says.
He believes this stranglehold must be broken if Hyderabad cricket is to survive. “Unless club secretaries introspect and choose cricket over personal power games, the game is bound to suffer,” he warns.
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His advice is blunt: “Stop lobbying for posts. Start demanding that only honest, qualified people be appointed as selectors, coaches, or committee members. That’s the only way forward.”
Ramanamurthy also weighed in on the recent arrests of HCA officials in connection with the IPL ticketing scam, based on a complaint filed by the Sunrisers Hyderabad franchise.
“Looks like a good beginning,” he says. “If the law enforcement agencies found prima facie evidence, then action was necessary. No one is above the law. Let the process run its course.”
Despite his disappointment, Ramanamurthy remains committed to the game. He continues to mentor young cricketers and follows the local circuit closely. But his frustration is evident.
“Hyderabad has talent,” he says. “But talent means nothing if the system is rigged.”
His voice, measured and resolute, rings with the weight of experience and unfulfilled promise. His century from No.11 may be a footnote in Indian cricket history, but in today’s context, it is a reminder of what can be achieved when merit is respected and mediocrity kept at bay.
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Until the system in Hyderabad embraces that truth, the revival he—and so many others—hope for will remain a distant dream.
