Hyderabad’s Historic Gymkhana Ground Gets a Fresh Makeover

Long before the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium became the city’s flagship venue, Hyderabad’s cricketing soul lived at the Gymkhana in Secunderabad. British soldiers first set foot on its greens in the 19th century, and the ground has been a battleground for the sport ever since.

Its first‑class debut came in 1931, and three years later the MCC – the Marylebone Cricket Club – became the inaugural overseas side to play on this soil. Since then the venue has seen the Women’s World Cup, the Irani Cup and countless Ranji games, earning a reputation as the birthplace of Hyderabad cricket.

This season the HCA decided it was time for a change. With the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium slated for a major overhaul, the Gymkhana will host all of Hyderabad’s Ranji fixtures in 2026‑27. The project, overseen by senior curator D. Mukesh Kumar, cost close to one crore rupees and took about four months to complete.

According to HCA secretary M. Jeevan Reddy, the ground “was not the same as I remembered” when he first walked onto it after taking charge. Ambati Rayudu, now HCA’s head of cricket operations, pledged to make the surface fairer for both batters and bowlers, and the renovation seems to be delivering on that promise.

All nine pitches have been replanted. Four feature the traditional black soil, three use red soil, and two are a 50‑50 blend, each sourced from Vikarabad. The mix aims to give a balanced bounce and turn, while also being resilient enough to handle the heavy workload of a Ranji season.

Early feedback is already sounding positive. Hyderabad’s coach Anirudh Singh and Tripura’s boss Satrajit Lahiri, the first teams to play on the revamped surfaces, have praised the even‑ness of the decks and the reduced hardness of the playing area.

Beyond the pitches, the 30‑yard circle has been rebuilt from scratch, making it gentler on players’ knees and hips. The drainage system has been overhauled, which, in turn, allowed the boundary to be pushed out by roughly six yards – a welcome gift for fielders and spectators alike.

With the upgrades now complete, the Gymkhana is set to welcome the first Ranji matches of the season, promising a blend of nostalgia and modernity for cricketers and fans alike.