As a former Ranji player who continues to coach tiny tots at the grassroots, I have spent the last two decades watching Hyderabad cricket sink into a pit of mediocrity and administrative chaos. Standards dropped, talent was ignored, and politics became the only game the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) seemed interested in playing. That is why, for once, I find myself cheering — our state side has stormed into the finals of the prestigious Butchi Babu tournament, where it now faces host Tamil Nadu.
The turnaround has been nothing short of refreshing. Left-arm spinner Nitin Sai Yadav’s seven-wicket haul in the semifinal against Haryana sealed Hyderabad’s entry into the title clash. But the larger story lies beyond that single performance. This campaign has been built on discipline, clarity of selection, and a refreshing absence of ego in the dressing room. Credit here must go to coach Ravi Teja and the selection committee led by Hari Mohan, N.P. Singh, and others who, finally, have been allowed to do their jobs with some degree of independence.
Ironically, the turmoil in the HCA may have turned out to be a blessing in disguise. With the President, Secretary, and Treasurer under arrest and the Association itself under the scanner of both the media and the courts, the usual interference in selection and team matters has been curtailed. Under this vacuum, the selectors were able to pick a balanced side, and Ravi Teja guided the team under the leadership of Rahul Singh to play like a well-oiled machine. Winning the first two league games and then knocking out Haryana in the semis has restored hope that Hyderabad cricket is not yet a lost cause.
But let me sound a note of caution. Hyderabad cricket has been betrayed too many times in the past by politics and petty egos. Even now, with a truncated Apex Council left with only an Acting President and a Joint Secretary, questions remain. Why were selectors denied permission to watch matches from the sidelines? Why should those tasked with building the team be kept away from the ground? These are not minor irritants; they reflect a mindset where administrators believe they must control every lever of power, even when it damages the team’s morale.
At this stage, the intervention of the High Court-appointed administrator, Justice Naveen Rao, becomes crucial. Entrusted with overseeing HCA’s day-to-day operations and ensuring that league matches run smoothly, Justice Rao must now also ensure that the selectors and coach are insulated from political meddling. If the team requires administrative support, they should be able to approach him directly without fear of reprisal from the Apex Council. Unless such a firewall is created, the success in the Butchi Babu could remain a one-off miracle rather than the beginning of a revival.
Hyderabad cricket fans deserve better than occasional sparks of brilliance drowned in years of chaos. This team’s performance has proved that when professional selectors and an experienced coach are given a free hand, results follow. Administrators must remember their role — to govern, not to interfere. Their responsibility ends with providing infrastructure, logistics, and funds; the business of selection and on-field strategy must be left entirely to the professionals.
As things stand, I join thousands of Hyderabadis in saluting Ravi Teja, the selectors, and the players for reviving belief in our cricket. Tomorrow’s final offers a chance to lift the Butchi Babu Trophy, but whether or not the silverware comes home, this campaign has shown us the path forward.
Hyderabad cricket is at a crossroads. Continue with the current discipline and professionalism, and the game can be rebuilt brick by brick. Allow politics and interference to creep back in, and we will be staring at another wasted generation of cricketers. The choice is stark — and the responsibility lies squarely with those entrusted to run the game. Unlike in the past, when the apex council removed Chatterjee, another fine cricketer the state has produced, as coach just ahead of the Ranji season — a blunder that proved costly — this time, the council must ensure it does not repeat the same mistake.
For now, well done Ravi Teja and team. You have put Hyderabad cricket back on the rails. But let us guard this momentum jealously, for one wrong move can send it crashing off track again.
