Former Hyderabad cricketers relive memories while watching Ranji Trophy opener

A group of former Hyderabad cricketers, including Pragyan Ojha, R. Sridhar and Hari Mohan, turned up at the NexGen Cricket Academy in Thumukunta to watch the Ranji Trophy opener, reminiscing about their playing days and discussing ways to strengthen Hyderabad cricket

HYDERABAD: Those were the days when the Ranji Trophy was considered to be one big step before making it to the National team, as some of the biggest names made it a point to play for their respective States every time they were available.

And, so did the fans used to throng the venues – the famous Lal Bahadur Stadium first and later the Gymkhana Grounds. The fans standing behind the fencing and getting a glimpse of their favorite cricketers in action was such a wonderful sight for sure.

Now, either the fans have lost interest in watching the first-class games because of an apparent overdose of international cricket beamed live from across the world at any given time, or the few who turn up for the matches now are turned away by the over-enthusiastic security in the name of ensuring complete safety to the players!

Given this context, it was such a refreshing sight to see at the NexGen Cricket Academy (Thumukunta near Hakimpet which hosted this season’s Ranji opener between Tilak Varma-led Hyderabad and Ayush Badoni-led Delhi) some of the former Hyderabad cricketers like left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha (now a National selector), former India fielding coach R Sridhar, former Hyderabad left-arm spinner Inder Sekhar Reddy, who incidentally runs the Academy along with former players Anirudh Singh, Naveen Reddy and others.

Not many of the current generation may remember that Ojha had the rare distinction of completing an amazing 10-wicket haul (five for 40 and five for 49) against the West Indies in what was Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell Test in Mumbai in November 2016.

And not to miss were former Hyderabad fast bowler N P Singh, arguably the finest in recent memory given his never-say-die spirit on any given wicket, former Hyderabad pacer and member of the 1987 Hyderabad Ranji Trophy winning squad Hari Mohan (now chairman of Hyderabad Senior Selection panel), Sainath, said to be the fastest bowler of his time, other selectors Ahmed Quadri, Akash Bhandari, Shaik Riazuddin, Jyothi Shetty.

“Generally, caught up on the old days, anecdotes, colleagues, ex players, big games…how we were paid Rs 300 for a three-day game and how the game has changed,” says Harimohan in a chat with ‘Telangana Today’.

“Yes, we do exchange notes on issues like team building, strategy, tactics, and selection, and how to take Hyderabad cricket forward,” he said. “The systems and processes and how to consistently qualify to promote our players and more tournaments, including the Telangana Premier League,” Harimohan said. systems and processes…how to consistently qualify to promote our players, more tournaments, TPL etc.

“Lots of nostalgia.. how we remember each other, our impressions of one another, etc,” he said. Inder Sekhar Reddy said that it would be imperative to host the TPL since every State has become a major platform to scout talent.

By all means, it is such a pleasant sight to see all these wonderful cricketers make it a point to travel long distances to be there at the ground and make their presence felt.