HCA Secretary R Devraj balances personal loss and triumph as Team India’s manager

"Many thoughts raced through my mind, and for a while, I was uncertain. However, my brother and other family members reassured me that everything would be taken care of, allowing me to fly back for the funeral and then return immediately to fulfill my responsibilities," Devraj shared in a conversation with Telangana Today.

Hyderabad: For R. Devraj, Secretary of Hyderabad Cricket Association and manager of the victorious Indian team in the just-concluded ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai, it was the “biggest and most emotional” challenge when he had to fly back home in the league phase of the championship as his mother passed away.

“Yes, too many thoughts flashed across my mind. For some time, I was not sure. But, thanks to my brother and other family members who gave a reassuring touch that everything will be taken care off, I could just fly back to be at the funeral and then leave immediately to complete my responsibility,” Devraj explained in a chat with ‘Telangana Today’.

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“In fact, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah sir called me immediately when he came to know about the tragedy. And he suggested not to worry and that everything would be taken care of. Well, even yesterday he enquired whether all formalities were being completed. So nice of him,” Devraj said.

“Yes, it was a fantastic feeling to be the manager of the Indian team. Honestly, it is a life-time achievement. And feel proud that I could become the second one from Hyderabad after the great P.R. Man Singh (former HCA Secretary and manager of the victorious Indian team in the 1983 World Cup) achieved this feat,” he said.

“I remember when I first spoke to Shivbhai (former Test star and BCCI president N. Shivlal Yadav) that I was appointed manager, he suggested that I come back with the Cup. You should join the select band of Man sir,” Devraj said.

“The atmosphere was just electrifying. There was so much positivity and mutual respect. At the same time, I was amazed at the way they respected me, made me look so comfortable every day. There was never a chance of any one of them being told of anything as they were real professionals,” Devraj said.

“The responsibilities were clearly demarcated with off-field and on-field action being so different. This made my job much easier,” he said.

On the big games, Devraj said beating Pakistan topped the agenda and then getting better of Australia. “Once we did that, we were 100 percent confident that the Cup would be ours,” he added.

And the most memorable souvenirs Devraj got from the victorious campaign were an autographed bat by Virat Kohli, helmet by Rohit Sharma, and a team jersey too autographed. “These will be my priceless possessions,” he said even while thanking HCA president A. Jagan Mohan and other members of the Apex Council for their support.