From infighting to infrastructure: Jeevan Reddy lays out HCA’s new playbook

M. Jeevan Reddy wants to define his tenure at the Hyderabad Cricket Association by focussing on cricket development in rural Telangana. | Photo Credit: Nagara Gopal

Cricket administrators in Hyderabad have long made more headlines for infighting and allegations of financial impropriety than for cricket. Now the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) is trying to change that, and at the centre of that push is M. Jeevan Reddy, who took charge as HCA’s secretary in March.

Two key appointments followed: Ambati Rayudu leading the Cricket Operations Committee and Wasim Jaffer as mentor to every team under its umbrella. Both agreed to take up their duties only after being promised complete transparency and an interference-free environment.

The inaugural edition of TG20 followed, a small but important new feather in a dusty, worn-out cap.

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“Anybody in Hyderabad has the opportunity to engage with the best sporting infrastructure. But how about rural Telangana? They don’t have basic facilities, like grounds or nets to practice, or coaches. I wanted to focus on rural cricketing activity when I came in,” he told The Hindu.

TG20 highlighted the same. The criteria for teams to have at least three players from the districts saw many experience cricket at new scales: from competing under floodlights surrounded by a packed house to getting to experience the kookaburra ball, among others.

Jeevan has not been shy to seek help when required. For instance, he roped in people associated with the Tamil Nadu Premier League for the smooth functioning of TG20. The result of that was more than 150 players getting a grand stage to showcase their talents, and some even snapping up trial opportunities with IPL teams.

But Jeevan realises the push needs to be bottom-up rather than the other way around.

“We want to have an academy in Hyderabad which should be on par with any other academy in India. Rayudu even recently visited the Center of Excellence in Bengaluru. We would like to roll it out in 2027. We also want to have four more academies across Telangana to encourage rural talent and create a system where they can be part of mainstream cricketing activity in the State.”

A new home of cricket

With Team India returning to the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium after two long years, the venue is also getting a makeover to give the players and fans an experience worth the occasion. However, a long-due overhaul of the turf has been put on hold for now.

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The bigger talking point has been the recent announcement by the State government for a world-class cricket stadium spread across a 100-acre site in Future City.

“We are working towards having a capacity of around 80 to 90 thousand. Besides that, it will also have an academy attached, along with a hotel, a recreational area and three or four practice grounds,” Jeevan said, giving this ambition a three-year timeframe to become reality.

He pointed to a constantly growing city and the location of the existing Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium to justify the plan.

“When you look at where the Uppal stadium is geographically situated, it is not possible to expand it. We are limited by safety challenges. The road approaching the stadium is very narrow, and it is in between residential areas. So holding any event there creates a lot of challenges for the residents.”

An interest in being part of an expanding Women’s Premier League canopy is another reason he cited for wanting a new venue.

“In the next two years, there could be three more teams coming in, and then hopefully the matches will also come to Hyderabad. If everything goes according to plan, somebody from Hyderabad itself could own a team,” he revealed, stopping short of revealing much more.

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Domestic drawing board

HCA is also keeping an eye on the present, with Rayudu and Co. working towards reviving the State’s fortunes on the domestic front. With the Gymkhana Ground set to host Ranji Trophy matches this season, the pitches have had the association’s undivided attention.

“Most pitches are flat these days. There is not a lot of swing now. So we wanted to create an environment where both batters and bowlers can do well and have surfaces that give momentum to the bowlers too.”

The Gymkhana Ground has been in the eye of a long-standing legal storm over control between the HCA and the Secunderabad Cantonment Board and Defence Estates. Jeevan is optimistic about cracking an amiable arrangement.

“I have spoken with the cantonment board, and their response was positive. We want to make sure that we can revamp the place. You can already see the new ground now and there’s more work going on in terms of dressing rooms and more. Once we sign again with the cantonment board, you will see something very different happen there.”