Step-by-step advice on pathways, clubs, competitions and coaching for getting into girls cricket and women’s cricket in Telangana.
She was an eight-year-old who loved dancing but began playing cricket on the grounds of Hyderabad only because her father didn’t want her to sleep in too late. Today, she is one of the best batters in the women’s game. We’re talking about the legend Mithali Raj, captain of India’s ODI team.
Mithali is one of the many incredible sportspersons from Hyderabad, apart from those like Sania Mirza, Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu, who have inspired girls to take up sport.
Mithali is not the only India women’s cricketer to come from the region. There’s Purnima Rau, former captain and coach, spinner Gouher Sultana, Sravanthi Naidu, Archana Das, Diana David, Mamta Kanojia and, most recently, pace bowling all-rounder Arundhati Reddy.
Interestingly, there is actually no ‘Telangana cricket team’ that represents the state in national competitions: the team is called ‘Hyderabad women’s cricket team’. It includes people from the city and other districts of Telangana. Things are run by the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA).
Where to start
A girl who wants to play cricket seriously can start by joining a private coaching camp, or attend one of the summer camps organised by the Hyderabad Cricket Association.
As a next step, you can register either with your district association, or directly with HCA. A registration form looks something like this. You will need to get the correct registration form for the year.
How to get selected to the Hyderabad women’s team
Hyderabad has teams for Under-16, Under-19, Under-23 and senior levels.
There used to be district or zonal matches that happened a few years ago, but in recent times, selection is via open trials.
Open trials → Probables → state team
- Keep an eye out for an ad in the paper or on the HCA website announcing the dates for the trials.
- The trials are generally age-group specific and happen over a couple of days, usually in Hyderabad.
- Depending on the number of players who attend, a team might either be named directly after the trials, or a smaller group of players shortlisted to be the ‘probables’.
- The probables have another camp, where they play some selection matches, and the top 15 or so selected to be the state team.
- Players who have already represented the state are sometimes exempt from these open trials.
Facilities
All players can get training and facilities at the state academy. If you make it into the state team, you have access to the academy for eight months a year. Those in summer camps also have access to some of these facilities at the academy.
Contact Hyderabad Cricket Association on hycricket@rediffmail.com or 040-27905676
School and college cricket for girls in Telangana
There is no organised structure for school or college cricket for girls.
Osmania University does send a team for the inter-varsity cricket tournament.
Notable academies for girls cricket in Hyderabad
There are no exclusive academies for girls. Some places where girls get coaching are:
- St John’s Cricket Academy, Hyderabad (Mithali Raj’s home ground; discounts available for girls)
- Zubi Cricket Academy, Hyderabad
- Daniels Cricket Academy, Hyderabad
- Arshad Ayub Academy, Hyderabad
Financial aid & scholarships for cricket
The Telangana Social and Tribal Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society runs cricket academies. The ones at Kammadanam in Shadnagar and Wanaparthy are exclusively for girls. Students in classes 5 to 8, whose family income is less than 2 lakh (urban) and 1.5 lakh (rural), are eligible. They need to clear a fitness test. Once they do, they get free boarding, lodging, two PT dresses, one tracksuit and a kit bag too. Call 9121174434 for details.
ML Jaisimha Sports Foundation, formed in early 2021, has committed to providing free coaching to 15 girls in the age group 15-19.
If you have information on schools, colleges or academies that support girls cricket in Hyderabad and Telangana contact us and we’ll add it to this page!