Special Correspondent
Hyderabad Cricket has quietly perfected a system that rewards perception over performance — an informal yet powerful “Talent Passport” that shields certain players from consequences. With this passport, a small group moves freely across teams, formats, and age groups, untouched by failures, fitness issues, or long stretches of poor form.
The worst part?
This passport isn’t earned. It’s manufactured — built through curated narratives of “potential,” pushed by academies, influencers, and a persistent ring of parents who understand that lobbying has more currency than runs or wickets in Hyderabad cricket today.
This season was expected to bring course correction.
Instead, it has plunged deeper into chaos. No accountability, no transparency — only louder whispers that the beneficiaries now operate with complete impunity.
This article captures only a fraction of the rot. The full story would fill a volume.
Why U23 Matters More Than Ever
The U23 structure feeds the Ranji side and serves as the IPL’s final gateway.
Selections at this level must be merit-based. But in Hyderabad, perception and politics dictate opportunities.
The result? A distorted, top-heavy ecosystem that promotes a chosen few while stunting genuine talent.
Team Management: Under Pressure or Part of the Problem?
Selectors may list 15 names, but the playing XI is team management’s responsibility. This season’s one-day campaign has exposed turmoil: confused batting orders, constant shuffling, and inconsistent opportunities.
The unavoidable question: Is team management under external pressure — or willingly complicit in feeding the same broken ecosystem?
Either way, player morale and results are the casualties.
Selection Paradoxes That Expose a Cracked System
- Prithvi Reddy — Star of C.K. Nayudu. Ignored for the first three games. Plays fourth; takes wickets instantly. Why benched?
- Dheeraj Goud — Once banned. Ordinary in Probables. Still plays the first four matches. Who cleared him?
- Nishant — Dropped from Ranji. Direct U23 entry. Four underwhelming games. Still tipped for SMAT. Where’s the justification?
- Avanish — Below par performances everywhere. Yet made captain. Has leadership become a passport privilege? Also tipped for SMAT
- Mayank Gupta — C.K. Nayudu, captain. Missing without explanation.
- Raghava Pattapu — Highest scorer in C.K. Nayudu. Dropped. Underperformers survive.
- Mohammad Adnan — Match-winning spells. Dropped entirely.
- Saket Datrak — Unfit for C.K. Nayudu; suddenly fit enough for one-dayers — and leaks runs.
- Sacheit — Consistent for seasons. Ignored, then dropped first. Inconsistent ones stay.
- Pranav Suryadeva — 630 runs, three hundreds, SR 180. Nowhere in any squad.
- Karan Patnayak — 660 runs. Not considered anywhere.
Vinoo Mankad: Winning Team, Losing Players
Despite winning the tournament, the entire squad was dismantled. Except the four selected for India duty, no one else retained their place.
Consistent performers — Rahul Karthikeya, Thanmai Krishna, Anshul, Arhan, Karan — were ignored for either one or both of Vinoo Mankad and Cooch Behar.
And what happened when Rahul and Thanmai finally got a chance?
Five-wicket hauls in their very first Cooch Behar match.
They were good enough all along.
U23 One-Day: A Predictable Collapse
Hyderabad chose to bowl after winning the toss. The bowlers, especially the new ball, were dispatched to all parts of the ground. Himachal reached 314/8 with contributions from all four top-order batters.
Prithvi Reddy excelled with four wickets; Nitin and Pranav bowled tightly.
The chase began with chaos:
Captain Avanish — opening inexplicably — retired hurt. Vignesh fell early. Aman and Dheeraj rebuilt but never controlled the required rate. Aman fought brilliantly for 137, Dheeraj for 74, but Hyderabad was again reacting — not competing.
Three Things Can Save Hyderabad Cricket – Merit. Stability. Intent.
Not grand reforms.
Not promises.
Just honesty in selection, role clarity, and accountability.
Until Hyderabad Cricket abandons its Talent Passport Culture, nothing — not results, not morale, not careers — will change.
