Time to silence the needless nitpicking?
Vinay Rao
The Hyderabad Under-19 team has gifted the city a moment to cherish — a historic maiden triumph in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy 2025, crowned by a campaign that was nothing short of spectacular. We have waited 39 years for a BCCI event win with the previous being a Ranji trophy in 1986.
The campaign was special as they topped their group with all wins except a marginal hiccup against Karnataka, and when it truly mattered, they seized the title from the edge of a collapse.
The final itself was a gripping story of composure and character. Punjab could muster only 111, undone by Hyderabad’s relentless bowling unit. Yashveer led the strike with three wickets, while Nipun Reddy, Malik, and Uzair chipped in with two each. But the chase turned dramatic when Punjab’s fiery pacer Ishan Sood rattled the top order with a five-wicket burst. Hyderabad tottered — until two young men decided they weren’t going anywhere.
Alankrit Rapole (58 not out) and Aawez Ahmed (35 not out) stitched a match-winning stand of 86 runs, displaying maturity far beyond their age. When the winning runs were scored, it wasn’t just a victory — it was a statement.
Captain Aaron George deserves special applause for leading by example. His 346 runs — featuring two centuries and a fine fifty — anchored Hyderabad throughout the journey. And what a revelation Wafi Kacchi has been: 228 runs, a century, and 10 wickets — the sort of all-round fireworks that define stars in the making. Yashveer, with 14 wickets including twice four-scalps, proved why he is seen as the spearhead of the future.
A triumph like this doesn’t happen by accident. The selectors chaired by Sudeep Tyagi showed conviction and resisted pressure — even a baseless police complaint meant to derail their decisions. They trusted talent, blocked out noise, and built a champion unit. This success validates them.
The coaching staff, who had limited preparation time and endless hurdles, deserve the loudest applause: B. Sandeep (Head Coach) with his strategic mindset empowered the players to express themselves freely, M.A. Khader ( Assistant Coach) played a critical role in mentoring the bowlers which proved crucial, Sharath Mudiraj (Fielding Coach) sharp fielding strategies were instrumental in choking the opposition batsman, Gaurav Kumar (Trainer) expertise in fitness helped quick recovery keeping the players fresh and injury free, Dr. Masood (Physio) meticulous workload management ensured sustained player health, and Hafeez Malik (Performance Analyst) match by match analysis gave the team tactical edge over the opposition.
Let their effort not be forgotten once the euphoria fades — as Hyderabad cricket has been guilty of doing in the past.
This win should not be seen as a swipe at the truncated Apex Council but as a cue for them: lean into this momentum. Thanks to media’s constant watch and consistent criticism. Support and develop infrastructure. Ensure transparency. Prioritize cricketers. True administrators turn success into a habit.
Club secretaries, too, must reflect. The HCA’s democratic structure has always been unique and valuable — provided it is exercised with unity and purpose. When personal factions replace collective vision, cricket suffers. Hyderabad cannot afford that anymore.
A word of appreciation is due to Justice Naveen Rao for his steady stewardship in trying times — bringing sanity, direction, and credibility when they were sorely needed.
Hyderabad has always produced natural brilliance even when the administration faltered. Imagine the heights if governance matched talent.
This city has given India icons: Abid Ali, M. L. Jaisimha, Abbas Ali Baig, Mohammed Azharuddin, Shivlal Yadav, Arshad Ayub, Venkatapathi Raju, V. V. S. Laxman, Noel David, Pragyan Ojha, Ambati Rayudu, Mohammed Siraj, and Tilak Varma.
And the women’s legacy is equally illustrious — led by the incomparable Purnima Rau and Mithali Raj, with torchbearers like Arundhati Reddy, V. V. V. Lakshmi, Sneha Deepthi, and many more.
Hyderabad is a cradle of cricketing genius — grace, grit, and guts wrapped together. With better support systems and unwavering focus on nurturing talent, Vinoo Mankad’s win can be the beginning of Hyderabad’s resurgence as a powerhouse of Indian cricket.
For now, hats off to the boys in blue-and-black.
They’ve shown everyone exactly what Hyderabad cricket is capable of — when cricket is allowed to lead.
The team deserves a grand reception and a meaningful prize money reward — both as recognition for this historic achievement and as a motivation to keep performing at the highest level. It would also inspire others to emulate their success.
Importantly, any reward must be routed only through Justice Rao and not through tainted officials. The funds should go directly into the players’ personal accounts, safeguarding them from any unscrupulous attempts to extract cuts or commissions.
You boys have earned every bit of this honour. Keep the State’s flag flying high — always!
