MS Shanker
An in-depth probe suggests that the decline of Hyderabad’s state cricket teams began in 2014 when the then in-charge secretary in 2016 made a unilateral decision to suspend the operations of the Cricket Academy. This Academy, launched with much fanfare, was proving to be a valuable institution for nurturing talent.
The Academy was the brainchild of former Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) President and ex-India off-spinner Arshad Ayub. Upon taking office, Ayub aimed to strengthen the state’s cricketing structure, from junior teams to the senior Ranji squad. To achieve this, he reached out to his former Test colleague, MV Narasimha Rao—popularly known as Bobji—to help establish the Academy and train young cricketers.
MV Narasimha Rao was a natural choice, given his proven track record. He was the first Indian cricketer to set up a cricket academy at St. John’s Church Ground, which nurtured talents like VVS Laxman, Hanuma Vihari, and Mithali Raj. However, after accepting a coaching assignment with Ireland’s national team, he entrusted the Academy’s operations to his Andhra Bank cricket team colleague, John Manoj.
MVNR, an accomplished all-rounder, holds a unique distinction in Hyderabad’s cricketing history. Under his leadership, the state team not only won the Ranji Trophy in 2020 but also secured victories in the Irani Cup and Moin-ud-Dowlah tournaments. This was a significant achievement, considering that despite producing Test stars like Ghulam Ahmed, ML Jaisimha, Abid Ali, Abbas Ali Baig, Jayantilal, and Govindraj, Hyderabad had often faltered in clinching the Ranji Trophy.
After the Mansingh era as HCA Secretary, successors like Shivlal Yadav and Arshad Ayub managed to keep Hyderabad cricket afloat despite growing external influences. Recognizing the decline in quality, Ayub felt an urgent need to establish an Academy that could consistently produce top-tier players across all age groups—from U-12 to Ranji level.
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Ayub convinced MVNR to leave his lucrative job in Ireland and return to Hyderabad to set up the Academy. However, in less than a year after the Academy’s establishment, legal interventions led to Ayub’s removal, triggering instability. With his friend and key supporter gone, MVNR faced significant roadblocks. The court-appointed in-charge secretary, Shesh Narayan, remained indecisive about continuing MVNR’s role as a consultant. This indecision forced MVNR to leave.
MVNR recalls, “Arshad contacted me in Ireland and requested me to help Hyderabad regain its elite status. Resigning from my job and leaving my family was no small sacrifice, but my passion for Hyderabad cricket drove me to take up the challenge.” He relocated to Hyderabad in July 2015 and took charge of the HCA Academy at Gymkhana Grounds.
Despite initial resistance, MVNR signed a two-year contract, bringing in his extensive coaching experience from England and Ireland. He restructured the Academy, introducing scientific training methods such as coach education, sports psychology, player nutrition, video analysis, and performance tracking. For the first time, the HCA Academy operated from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, an unprecedented initiative in Indian domestic cricket.
The results were remarkable. Within eight months, Hyderabad cricket was the talk of the country. The senior team was promoted back to the elite group, while the U-23, U-19, and U-16 teams won their respective championships. “It was a clean sweep,” MVNR proudly recalls. The Academy gained a reputation as one of the best in India, boasting a team of skilled coaches, strength and conditioning experts, physiotherapists, and video analysts.
After a brief vacation in Ireland, MVNR returned to find that the HCA’s administration had changed overnight. The new regime, without any formal notice, shut down the Academy, leaving him in the lurch. He waited for a possible reopening, but eventually left as hope faded.
Although the Academy was later revived, HCA did not contact MVNR, its founder. Instead, it appointed new Academy heads, with former state player Vijay Mohan Raj currently at the helm. However, insiders claim that the new coaches lack the expertise required, causing the game to suffer across all formats. (To be concluded)
