New soil, new life: Hyderabad Gymkhana relays all nine pitches for Ranji season

With the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium due for much-needed revamp in the coming months, Gymkhana landed the Ranji hosting gig in entirety, and that set the ball rolling for some crucial changes at the historic venue.

Updated : Oct 10, 2026 20:53 IST , HYDERABAD - 4 MINS READ

Cricket has been played on this ground for more than 150 years. For the upcoming season, the Gymkhana Ground will don a new look. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Photo Library

Before Hyderabad had a Test venue, it had Gymkhana.

Cricket has been played on this ground for more than 150 years, ever since British Army personnel first took to it in the 19th century. In 1931, it staged its first First Class match, between Hyderabad and the Maharaj Kumar of Vizianagram’s XI. Three years later, in 1934, the MCC became the first official overseas team to play in Hyderabad, and this was the ground that welcomed them.

The Women’s World Cup has come here, and so has the Irani Cup. Now, decades on, this same patch of Secunderabad will host every one of Hyderabad’s home matches in the Ranji Trophy this season.

Australian cricketers Steve Waugh, Geoff Lawson, Mark Taylor. Bobby Simpson (Coach), watching the practice match against Hyderabad XI at Gymkhana in Hyderabad on October 17, 1989. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Photo Library

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Well, not quite the same patch. A great deal of work has gone into giving players a surface worthy of the red ball top flight.

“When we think of cricket in Hyderabad, we think of Gymkhana. It has produced a lot of cricketers for India and is the birthplace of cricket in Hyderabad. After taking charge, I went and saw Gymkhana, and it was not the same one that I knew,” HCA secretary M. Jeevan Reddy told Sportstar.

With the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium due for much-needed revamp in the coming months, Gymkhana landed the Ranji hosting gig in entirety, and that set the ball rolling.

Rayudu rolls up his sleeves

Soon after Ambati Rayudu took charge as head of cricket operations, he vowed that batters and bowlers would get genuine help from the pitches under HCA’s purview. And he has been true to his word, starting with the relaying of every pitch at the Gymkhana Ground under the watchful eyes of D. Mukesh Kumar, HCA’s senior curator.

The search for the right soil was exhaustive: as many as seven potential regions and vendors were on the table before Vikarabad emerged as the source of both red and black soil.

The former India international and his team then personally stood watch as relaying began.

Women’s World Cup matches in the 1997 World Cup were hosted by this venue. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Photo Library

Roughly four months of labour and close to one crore in expenditure later, all nine pitches wear a fresh face: four of black soil, three of red, and two with a 50-50 mix. Hyderabad and Tripura will be the first to find out what they offer, but the early impressions have already won over head coaches Anirudh Singh and Satrajit Lahiri respectively. On one point there is consensus: these pitches will produce results, and teams will not be able to take the easy route to a draw.

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The 30-yard circle has been rebuilt from the ground up so that the surface is no longer as unforgiving on players’ bodies. With recovery in mind, a dedicated ice bath space has also been created.

The drains at the venue have been covered over with strategic openings for faster drainage. This has, in turn, seen the square boundary grow by around six yards.

Far from stumps

More is in the pipeline. Plans are afoot for a gallery where fans can sit, rather than pressing up against the fence for a glimpse of the action. Floodlights are also under serious consideration.

The major works are done in time for the 2026-27 Ranji season, which begins on Sunday. But the ambition does not end there. Bigger changes are already mapped out for once the curtain falls on this campaign, beginning with doubling the size of both dressing rooms.