By Admin 
While Hyderabad’s victory against Himachal Pradesh takes it to the top of the table in Group D, the win was sweeter due to the trials and tribulations the team had to endure on its way to Nadaun.
Runway repairs at the Chandigarh airport meant the side’s journey from Pondicherry was divided into three legs and over 22 hours.
“It was extra tiring because Pondicherry was humid, where we fielded in the end,” Hyderabad head coach D.B. Ravi Teja told the The Hindu.
Their troubles did not end there.
“We couldn’t have a proper training session because our kit bags didn’t come. We only saw the wicket, assessed conditions, had a small recovery session. We played a small game and went back,” he disclosed.
Despite this, Hyderabad remained focused and, powered by Abhirath Reddy’s unbeaten 175 (200b, 19×4, 3×6), defeated Himachal Pradesh by four wickets.
“We travelled by semi-sleeper bus and reached at five a.m. I slept on the floor en route as I thought it’d be more comfortable there, while most slept in their seats,” Abhirath recalled, before addressing the win.
“On the final day, we thought that the wicket would aid swing only in the first session and that we could dominate their spinners later. We played for the win, as we will in any match this season.”
That knock was also a moment of redemption for Abhirath, who tore his hamstring during Hyderabad’s victorious Buchi Babu campaign and managed to recover just in time.
“I had to do aggressive rehab, which was a battle. One day I felt I would recover, next day I wasn’t sure at all. But it all feels worth it now,” he admitted.
It wasn’t the only thing on Abhirath’s mind on the final day as he had dropped a simple catch earlier, which could’ve ended up proving costly.
“I dropped a schoolboy catch when Akash Vasisht was in single digits, and he hit a century. But I thought of Mohammed Siraj dropping Harry Brook’s catch and later sealing the win for India. I thought I could also do the same, given a chance.”
And he did, by reacting, adapting and reshaping his approach to give Hyderabad a well-deserved win.