How Current Policies Are Derailing Hyderabad Cricket
By Vinay Rao
The decision to place Hyderabad’s Under-23 team under junior selectors has caused serious and lasting damage to Hyderabad cricket. This move was neither cricket-driven nor aligned with established best practices. Instead, vested interests within the Hyderabad Cricket Association appear to have misled the Court-appointed Administrator, resulting in a structure that serves individual agendas rather than the long-term health of the game.
The consequences are already evident. The U-23 team has endured a poor season, and with the second leg of the Col C K Nayudu Trophy approaching, players are anxiously awaiting transparent and credible selection. After a season marked by erosion of confidence and cohesion, junior selectors—who have failed both the team and its players—cannot be trusted with this responsibility.
This decision has effectively broken Hyderabad’s feeder system. In most successful associations, the U-23 side functions as a direct pipeline to the senior team. Having the same selectors for both levels ensures continuity, objective tracking of form and fitness, and seamless player progression. Hyderabad has deviated from this proven model—with entirely predictable consequences.
Senior Team Paying the Price
The senior Hyderabad team is now struggling with fitness, form, and direction, while senior selectors are left uncertain about replacements. They neither followed the U-23 season closely nor received structured performance reports. As a result, they are unclear about where to look when injuries and loss of form strike.
This disconnect has directly contributed to Hyderabad’s disappointing Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign.
The tournament began without the captain and strike bowler C. V. Milind. India internationals Mohammed Siraj and Tilak Varma also did not represent Hyderabad in domestic cricket—despite most leading stars turning out for their states—for reasons best known to them. Tanay Thyagarajan appears to have picked up an injury. The team looked unsettled, lacking clarity in selection, balance, and strategy.
What continues to puzzle observers is the selectors’ narrow thinking—an excessive fixation on left-arm spinners and an apparent reluctance to invest in proven alternatives or promising fast-bowling all-rounders.
Ignored Performers Despite Consistent Evidence
(Probables & League Performances)
Several players with strong, verifiable performances continue to be overlooked without explanation. The absence of transparency and objective evaluation has left Hyderabad without a credible bench or a succession plan.
Spinners
- Ashish Srivastava (Leg-spin) – 47 wickets
- Shaunak Kulkarni (Leg-spin) – 28 wickets
- G. Arjun (Leg-spin) – 32 wickets
- Ruthik Yadav (Off-spin) – 23 wickets
Fast-Bowling All-Rounders
- N. Rishith Reddy – 388 runs, 17 wickets
- Jawad Khan – 382 runs, 19 wickets
- Aarya Udupa – 300 runs, 22 wickets
- Krithin Kothapalli – 330 runs, 14 wickets
Batsmen
- Mickhil Jaiswal – 886 runs, 18 wickets
- Chandan Sahani – 770 runs
- Rishiket Sisodia – 736 runs
- Pranav Suryadevara – 630 runs
- Sai Purnanand Rao – 616 runs
- Gaurav Reddy – 442 runs
- Hima Teja – 300 runs
These figures reflect consistency and impact, yet selections continue to be driven by opinion and assumption rather than performance. Players are left with nothing to fall back on—no feedback, no clarity, and no accountability.
Vijay Hazare Trophy: Evidence on the Field
Match 1: Hyderabad vs Uttar Pradesh
Hyderabad conceded 324/5 in 50 overs, with Uttar Pradesh’s top three crossing 80 and captain Rinku Singh adding a rapid 67 off 48 balls. Hyderabad’s chase never truly took off. Despite a half-century from Tanmay Agarwal and contributions from Rahul Buddhi and Varun, the team lost by 84 runs.
Match 2: Hyderabad vs Vidarbha
The defeat to Vidarbha was even more emphatic. Dhruv Shorey smashed 109 off 77 balls, supported by half-centuries from A. Mokhade, Y. V. Rathod, and Samarth. Hyderabad replied with resistance only from Abhirath Reddy and Varun, who struck a fluent 85 off 68 balls, before losing by 89 runs.
These results underline a lack of balance, depth, and preparedness—clear symptoms of a fractured development pathway.
Club & District Cricket: Positives and Areas of Concern
It must be fairly acknowledged that the administration deserves credit for the sheer volume of cricket conducted this season. For the first time, T20 and One-Day tournaments for B Division and Districts have been organised, with most competitions nearing completion alongside promotion and relegation processes. This is a positive and welcome development for Hyderabad cricket.
However, certain structural changes require careful review.
The reduction of A-Division matches from three days to two days has had unintended consequences. While scheduling efficiency may improve, players lose vital exposure to fourth-innings pressure, leaving them underprepared for senior state cricket.
Further, while B Division and District cricket offer wide participation, a significant visibility gap remains. Selectors rarely travel to watch these matches, creating an implicit bias toward A-Division performances. With the reduction in A-Division teams, opportunities at the top tier have shrunk, forcing capable players into B Division with limited pathways back—despite strong performances.
These arguments are not against increased volume—conducting matches on time is commendable—but for better integration, visibility, and review mechanisms. Performance across divisions must be assessed objectively. Decisions must be guided by cricketing logic and long-term development, not advice from vested interests.
A Ray of Hope: Under-16 Success
Amid the concerns, Hyderabad’s Under-16 side has provided genuine cheer in the Vijay Merchant Trophy, defeating Delhi by an innings and 126 runs.
Batting highlights:
Sai Tanishq (80), Adithya Vardhan, Prince, and Ram Charan (centuries)
Bowling highlights:
Ayush Malhotra (5 & 4), Ved Reddy (3 & 2), Dheeraj (4)
This performance demonstrates what Hyderabad cricket can achieve when talent is backed purely on merit. The hope now is that—given the unfortunate precedents set this season—a winning unit is not dismantled to accommodate favourites.
The shift of the Under-23 team to junior selectors has harmed Hyderabad cricket structurally, competitively, and psychologically. The senior team is now paying the price for a broken feeder system and poor succession planning.
Hyderabad cricket urgently needs course correction, transparency, and accountability—while preserving and strengthening the positives already visible at club and district levels. Until that happens, one can only hope the remainder of the season brings wiser decisions and better news for the future of the game.
