Special Correspondent
With corruption in the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) reaching its pinnacle, its truncated apex council—now headed by Acting President Sardar Daljit Singh and Acting Joint Secretary Basavaraju—finds itself in the dock once again. The charge this time: blatant manipulation and favoritism in the selection of Hyderabad’s Under-19 cricket team.
A parent, A. Venkateshwar Rao, has filed a writ petition before the Telangana High Court, alleging that his son Avula Nikshith, a promising 18-year-old cricketer, was arbitrarily disqualified from representing Hyderabad in the BCCI’s Vinoo Mankad Trophy (2025–26). Rao’s affidavit paints a damning picture of what many insiders have long described as HCA’s “pay-to-play” culture—a system where connections and cash allegedly outweigh merit and performance.
In his affidavit, Rao accuses the HCA’s selection committee of violating Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution by denying his son a fair, just, and transparent opportunity. Despite an impressive record in the selection matches—averaging 62.5 runs in two crucial innings played under pressure—Nikshith was dropped without explanation.
The affidavit alleges that the selection process leaned on an “untenable criterion”—the Yo-Yo fitness test—conducted on October 2, 2025, the results of which were never disclosed to players. The petitioner argues that this secrecy was intended to “suppress the inadequate and poor performance” of certain handpicked players who had been promoted to the final team.
Rao’s plea seeks a writ of mandamus directing the HCA to publish the performance indicators of every player and make the selection process fully transparent by uploading all data and criteria on its official website. He has also requested that his son be included in the Hyderabad squad for both the Vinoo Mankad Trophy and the upcoming Cooch Behar Trophy.
The affidavit lists a pattern of favoritism in the selection of matches. Players such as Sk. Rehaan Roshan, G. Aryan Reddy, Adit Somendra, Aaron George, and Aditya Javvaji allegedly received repeated top-order batting opportunities despite mediocre performances. Roshan, for instance, reportedly scored just 26 runs in each of the five selection matches yet continued to open for the “Red Team.”
In contrast, Nikshith, who batted lower down the order, seized his limited chances—scoring 55 runs in a tense chase and 70 on a rain-affected pitch. “A player with an average of 62.5 was ignored and sidelined without justification,” Rao notes, calling it a case of “selective evaluation and predetermined results.”
Perhaps most damning is the revelation that some players banned by the HCA itself in November 2024—including Aditya Javvaji, Prem Gone, and Akula Sai Chandra—were allegedly selected again this year. The ban, as per the HCA’s own press release, was to remain in effect until November 2026.
(Caption: Here is the Final Summary of the Selected Super-30 for Under-19 Yellow is Probable Performances and Blue is League Performances – 2025-2026)
This is not Rao’s first brush with the HCA. In April 2025, the High Court ruled in his favor in W.P. No. 30993 of 2024, when HCA had allegedly suppressed a crucial TW3 report (used for age verification). The court had noted that the association’s conduct “was not bona fide and was by design,” and directed that the player be registered with the BCCI.
Despite that judicial rebuke, Rao claims the HCA continues to act with “arbitrary, unfair, and targeted discrimination,” this time using a dubious Yo-Yo test as a pretext for exclusion.
(Caption: Bowler Stats – Yellow is Probables Performances and Wickets Taken, whereas Orange is League Matches and Wickets Taken)
What adds another layer of irony is that all this unfolded under the watch of the Telangana High Court–appointed Supervisory Committee, headed by Justice Naveen Rao. Parents and players alike allege that the Acting President and Joint Secretary have taken advantage of the Committee’s silence to perpetuate the same opaque practices that have long plagued the HCA.
The petitioner argues that the Supervisory Committee’s oversight “exists only on paper,” as corrupt elements within the truncated HCA structure continue to manipulate selections and shield favored candidates.
The case of Avula Nikshith, while deeply personal, has struck a wider chord among Hyderabad’s cricketing community. Dozens of parents have expressed frustration that deserving players are routinely overlooked, while politically connected or financially influential families get the nod.
“Selections are no longer about merit or match performance,” said one parent who requested anonymity. “It’s about who you know and how much you can pay.”
As the Telangana High Court prepares to hear the matter, the outcome could set a precedent for restoring fairness and credibility to Hyderabad cricket—a sport once known for its glorious legacy of integrity and talent, now mired in scandal and shame.
If proven true, Rao’s affidavit might well expose the HCA’s current functioning as what critics already call it: not a ‘House of Cricket’, but a marketplace of manipulation.
