Winds of change blow in HCA: Naming Ranji captain ahead of season surprises many

The Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), in an unprecedented but welcome move, had on Friday announced the captain and vice-captain of the Hyderabad Ranji Trophy team for the 2026-27 season. India player Mohd Siraj has been named the captain and CV Milind his deputy. The move, however, caught the stakeholders off-guard.

“Has this kind of selecting the captain and vice-captain been done any time before. The team is announced along with captain and vice-captain,” said a club secretary.

“This is unprecedented as the captain has always been named when the team list is announced. This is for the first time that such a thing has happened,” said a former office-bearer.

But is the move a bad one? Looking at all the factors, one feels that a change in the system, if it leads to something good, is always welcome. There is no cardinal rule which says that things should be done in a certain fixed manner only.

Ambati Rayudu is looking to do things differently this season. It remains to be seen how the changes will benefit Hyderabad cricket, says a club secretary

Former India player AT Rayudu, who is the head of Cricket Operations at the HCA, seems to be wanting to do things differently this season. As such naming the captain and vice-captain by the Senior Selection Committee, headed by former Hyderabad player P Akshath Reddy, much ahead of the season is a move in that direction.

Captain, coach should have say in team selection

Will things change by this move? “By naming the captain and vice-captain, the selectors are sending out a clear message that they are ready for the season and have a clear strategy in mind. They are not going to wait till the last minute and name the team, as has been happening over the years,” said a source.

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“The selectors also want the captain and the coach to have a say in team selections. All these years, the captain as well as the coach had no clue on who will make it to the squad. They were given a squad and were expected to deliver results.

“By naming the captain early, the selectors want the captain and the coach to watch the games and come up with names which could be considered by the committee. It is going to be more of a team work with the selectors, coach and the captain putting their heads together to make a squad which could challenge the best,” the source added.

Rayudu clear about the strategy for cricket in HCA

“This time it is going to be different. Rayudu had made it clear to the selectors what he was expecting from them. They have been given clear instructions on how to select players. Hence, one will see a lot of changes happening in the system from this season,” said another source.

However, ‘another strange decision was leaving India and South Zone captain Tilak Varma out of the leadership equation’. This has also caught the attention of the club secretaries. “What may be the reason for this strange decision,” asked a secretary.

Tilak Varma was not considered as he will be unavailable. He will remain in contention for a leadership role in white ball cricket

But sources said the selectors had spoken to Tilak Varma on the issue and he had told them that he would not be available for most of the red ball cricket. “Tilak has a very busy season with the Indian team. He may be available at the fag end of the tournament. Hence, the selectors had skipped his name. He will, however, be in contention for the captaincy in the white ball competitions,” the sources said.

“Mohd Siraj, on the other hand, will be there for the first four matches at least. Hence, he was named the skipper. (CV) Milind will handle things when Siraj is not available,” they added.

HCA releases should be better drafted

A couple of club secretaries feel that the press release should have been better drafted and also the release should have the name of the official who is issuing the letter.

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“The press release should have mentioned the fact that Tilak Varma would be unavailable for selection due to his India commitments. That would eliminate a lot of speculations. Also, the release should be issued on the name of the secretary or any other official as it is done by the BCCI,” said a club secretary.

Hyderabad take on Tripura in opening match

The 2026–27 Ranji Trophy season will be played in two phases, with the tournament starting on October 11, 2026. The first phase will be held from October 11 to November 5, 2026 in which four rounds of matches will be held. The second phase of matches will be from January 17 to February 4, 2027 and the knock-outs will be played from February 9 to March 3, 2027.

Hyderabad are in Elite Group B along with Andhra, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Punjab, Saurashtra and Tripura. Hyderabad begin their campaign against Tripura from October 11 to 14, 2026.