By Vinay Rao
Change remains painfully slow in the Hyderabad Cricket Association. The brief euphoria over recent wins has already faded, and the old challenges have resurfaced with familiar predictability.
For decades, Hyderabad cricket has revolved around a few names considered “naturally talented.” Yet, few among them have delivered consistently beyond the state level. Ironically, many of Hyderabad’s genuine success stories — those who’ve made it big — have emerged from outside the association’s comfort circle. That should tell us something.
Even recent triumphs haven’t inspired institutional pride. The Vinoo Mankad Trophy–winning side and India’s World Cup champion Arundhati Reddy received no recognition, no reception, no felicitation, not even an official note of appreciation from the HCA.
Soon after, the familiar murmurs returned — of favoritism, influence, and questionable selections. Some officials appear to have taken shelter behind the team’s success, even as concerns about fairness persist. Junior selectors seem to function with near-complete autonomy, and any scrutiny is quickly dismissed as needless criticism — especially when the team happens to win. Once again, form and merit risk being overshadowed by reputation and connections.
After last week’s highs, Hyderabad’s Ranji campaign settled into quieter rhythms. In the home game against Rajasthan, Hyderabad posted 364 in the first innings — anchored by a gritty century from Rahul Radesh, who continues to deliver despite frequent reshuffling to accommodate others. Rahul Singh (55) and Rohit Rayudu (47) provided support. For Rajasthan, Sharma and Chahar claimed three wickets each.
The visitors recovered from early setbacks through a resilient partnership between Rathore (83) and Kookna, denying Hyderabad full control. Bowlers Tanay and C.V. Milind took three wickets apiece, with Punniah and Aniketh adding two each, giving Hyderabad a 95-run lead that might have been larger.
In the second innings, Hyderabad declared at 244/9, with Rahul Singh (59), Himteja (41), and Rayudu (47) contributing again. Rajasthan, led by S.F. Khan (79) and Lomror (40), held firm for a draw at 207/3. A slightly earlier declaration might have created a window for a result.
Meanwhile, the U-23 campaign began under a cloud of familiar uncertainty — performers left out, out-of-form players retained, and selection communication opaque as ever. Batting first against Uttar Pradesh, Hyderabad managed just 233, well below par. Aman Rao made 50 but failed to convert, while Sarthak Bharadwaj added 40. The decision to field two wicketkeepers — with Dheeraj playing as a specialist batsman despite poor form — baffled many. The exclusion of Prithvi and Vignesh only deepened doubts. UP’s chase was anchored by Sameer Rizvi’s composed century and his unbeaten stand with Karthik Yadav after early setbacks to Dinesh Rathod and Saket Datrak.
Hyderabad cricket does not lack talent; it lacks fairness and consistency in its processes. The U-19 one-day team has shown some stability, but the U-16, U-14, and U-19 (days) sides continue to struggle — clear evidence of gaps in nurturing and evaluation.
Too much authority remains concentrated in the hands of a few junior selectors, many of whom oversee multiple age groups with little oversight or accountability. State selections must reflect current form, not legacy reputation. Decisions should be guided by performance data, transparent reviews, and clearly defined criteria.
Successful cricket associations build wide, competitive pools of players — monitored, mentored, and match-ready. It creates confidence and a healthy hunger to excel, not the insecurity that currently defines Hyderabad’s dressing rooms.
Hyderabad teams will win — they always have — but victories must come through a credible process that inspires confidence. The goal should be to build an ecosystem where every player knows that performance, not patronage, earns opportunity. Only then will Hyderabad cricket truly transform from a cycle of wasted promise to a story of enduring progress.
