By Vinay Rao
Hyderabad’s pursuit of a daunting 366-run target was as thrilling as it was heartbreaking. The team fought with admirable spirit, coming agonizingly close before falling short at 345. It was a performance that revealed both the courage of the players and the continuing confusion surrounding selection and balance — two sides of the same story that has long defined Hyderabad cricket.
Winning the toss and opting to bowl first, Hyderabad began promisingly, removing the Tamil Nadu opener for a duck. But the joy was short-lived. What followed was a leather hunt as Amith Satwik’s blistering 73 (strike rate 166) and Boopathi Kumar’s run-a-ball 57 tore into the new-ball attack. Despite a brief comeback — thanks to Nishant’s twin strikes and Pranav Varma’s disciplined spell, the best of the lot with an economy of 5 — the innings slipped away again.
Tamil Nadu’s middle order capitalized on wayward bowling. Sunny’s belligerent 74, which included seven sixes, and Karthick’s clean-hitting 50 (five fours and two sixes) pushed the total to a formidable 366/9. A brisk cameo from Sachin Rathi (21 off 14 balls) sealed a mountain for Hyderabad to climb. The fast bowlers, Dinesh Rathod and Saketh Datrak, endured a harsh day — both conceding close to ten runs an over.
The chase of the heart
Faced with the daunting ask, Hyderabad came out swinging. Aman Rao set the tone with fearless strokeplay, racing to a stunning 68 off 40 balls (SR 170) before a mix-up led to his unfortunate run-out — a moment that changed the rhythm of the chase. Harshit, at the other end, played the anchor but perhaps a bit too slowly for the situation, allowing the required rate to climb steadily.
Captain Avanish’s early dismissal for a duck added pressure on Dheeraj and Harshit to rebuild. Dheeraj fought hard for 75 (SR 111) while Harshit ground out 45 (SR 63), but the momentum never quite returned. Quick wickets followed, and once again Hyderabad’s middle order was left to mount a rescue act.
Sarthak and Nithin injected fresh energy into the innings with fearless intent — Sarthak’s enterprising 69 (SR 132) and Nithin’s explosive 54 (SR 175) rekindled hope. Their counterattack took Hyderabad within striking distance, but the pressure of the chase finally told as the innings folded at 345 — just 21 short of a famous win.
Reflections beyond the score
The effort was valiant — Hyderabad’s batting lineup showed resilience and belief in the face of a massive total. Yet, the narrow defeat also threw a harsh light on deeper issues. Selection consistency, role clarity, and accountability remain missing pieces in the team’s puzzle.
Now comes the familiar danger — that the same favourites will be retained, justified by occasional wickets or runs that may not have truly served the team’s cause. Scapegoats will likely be found elsewhere, while a “fresh infusion” of so-called new talent — identified by the same selectors — may follow. It’s a recurring pattern: change without correction.
Several in-form league performers continue to be overlooked, while selections often appear based on reputation rather than readiness. The junior selectors’ belief that “talent can be spotted by instinct” is being put to a stern test, especially when actual performances with bat and ball tell a different story.
The players on the field showed the hunger that Hyderabad cricket desperately needs. But for that spirit to translate into consistent success, the system off the field must match it with fairness, transparency, and genuine opportunity. Courage must now be backed by conviction.
(Editor’s Observation: Justice Naveen Rao’s appointment by the High Court may have finally struck some fear into the system — enough to spark better performances. But that’s just the start. As a no-nonsense former judge, he must aim for nothing short of a full purge. The rot runs deep. The old system that placed Ranji and U-23 selections under the Senior Selection Committee must be restored, and the dysfunctional women’s panels shown the door. It’s time to bring back upright, credible names like Purnima Rau — not the power-broker’s puppets still poisoning Hyderabad cricket.)
