Reviving Hyderabad Cricket: A One-Man Crusade Against A Rotten Empire Interestingly, some episodes in this series have featured cricketers whose involvement in the murky politics of the state cricket association—through lobbying, backroom deals, and profiteering—may have upset many. Their actions arguably contributed to the decline of the game. Yet, my decision to feature them was…
Two southern Chief Ministers—Kerala’s Pinarayi Vijayan and Tamil Nadu’s M.K. Stalin—have crossed a constitutional red line by issuing public statements on India’s foreign policy. In a federal democracy like India, foreign affairs are exclusively a matter for the Union Government. While state leaders may privately express disagreement, going public with condemnations—especially on sensitive international matters—is…
MS Shanker In my ongoing mission to uncover the reasons behind the decline of cricket in Telangana, particularly under the mismanagement of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), it is becoming disturbingly clear that the rot has gone from bad to worse. At the heart of this decay lies the infiltration of political opportunists into positions…
Vanka Pratap: A Voice from the Inside MS Shanker In the continuing series on resurrecting Hyderabad cricket, we turn the spotlight this week on former Ranji all-rounder and one of the more vocal figures in the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) ecosystem—Vanka Pratap. A gritty cricketer-turned-administrator, Pratap is no stranger to the political undercurrents of Hyderabad…
Today, June 9, 2025, marks 11 years since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister of India—a milestone that reflects not just political longevity but transformational leadership that has reshaped the nation’s trajectory. Over these 11 years, India has experienced more than governance; it has witnessed purposeful, determined statesmanship. Yet, a dysfunctional Opposition remains fixated on him…
Delayed Leagues, Divided House, and the Rs 45 Crore Question MS Shanker In my continued mission to clean up the HCA and save the game, I wish to momentarily shift focus from my regular investigations to a pressing issue at hand — the ongoing delay in the local league and the upcoming AGM. It’s deeply…
Thirteen lives lost. A 12-year-old girl was crushed to death in the chaos. Dozens more injured. All because the Congress-led Karnataka government chose optics over order, political spectacle over public safety. And now, as the Chief Minister and his deputy shamelessly distance themselves from responsibility, the question must be asked: how many more must die…
Vijay Mohan Raj’s Blunt Truths: Hyderabad Cricket Deserves Better M S Shanker In this twelfth instalment of the “How to revive Hyderabad Cricket” series, we shine the spotlight on a man whose name is etched across multiple cricketing legacies — Vijay Mohan Raj. A player of exceptional calibre, a certified coach, and until recently the…
Can a district collector file a report against the very government that appointed him? Can an officer of the state investigate his political masters and bring them to justice? The answer is obvious to anyone who understands the basics of governance. Yet, in an insult to public intelligence, the Karnataka government has asked the Bengaluru…
MS Shanker By now, even those who only watch cricket for the memes know that this year’s IPL has been less of a predictable tournament and more of a Netflix thriller with plot twists every episode — some enjoyable, others purely sponsored by rainclouds and DLS calculations. From rank outsiders to points table climbers, this…
