Cricket fever grips Karimnagar as district hosts first official HCA league matches

Jairam Kashyap’s century (121 of 117 balls) led Budding Stars to a 16-run victory over the Combined Districts team in the official A-Level Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) second league match held at the Velchala Jagapathi Rao Memorial Cricket Ground in Alugunur, Karimnagar, on Monday.

Karimnagar earned the unique distinction of being the first district in Telangana to host the official A-Level HCA League matches outside Hyderabad. Karimnagar District Cricket Association (KDCA) President V. Agam Rao, who was instrumental in developing the cricket grounds in Alugunur, is among a sizeable number of cricket enthusiasts to watch the match.

The first league match between the Combined Districts Team and Deccan Wanderers was played at the sprawling new cricket ground in Alugunur on Sunday, marking a historic milestone in the journey of KDCA. In a see-saw battle, Deccan Wanderers prevailed over their opponents by one wicket.

The two-league matches generated much enthusiasm in the former composite Karimnagar district and elsewhere in north Telangana. Plans are afoot to develop state-of-the-art facilities at the Velchala Jagapathi Rao Memorial Cricket Academy in Alugunur to foster local talent, KDCA sources said.