Hyderabad Cricket Association revamps institution team structure for 2026-27 season

On June 29, 2026, the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) announced a revamped league structure for institution cricket teams in Hyderabad, consolidating them into a single division called 'A-Institutions' starting from the 2026-27 season. The decision, aimed at streamlining local competitions and creating advancement opportunities for over 600 Telangana players, was finalized during a meeting chaired by former India cricketer Ambati Rayudu, who currently serves as the Head of Cricket Operations for the HCA.

The meeting was held in the presence of HCA Secretary Mr M Jeevan Reddy, along with the owners and members representing various institution teams. The session was organized to address the concerns of these teams and outline the roadmap for the upcoming seasons.

Under the newly approved guidelines, all institution teams will compete under the single 'A-Institutions' division during the 2026-27 season. However, institution teams currently playing in HCA's traditional A-Division, B-Division, or C-Division during the 2026-27 season will bypass this initial phase and be placed directly into the A-Institutions division for the subsequent 2027-28 season.

At the conclusion of the 2026-27 season, final rankings will be assigned to all participating teams based on their league standings. Using these rankings, the HCA will divide the institution teams into three distinct tiers for the 2027-28 season: A-Institutions, B-Institutions, and C-Institutions.

The HCA confirmed that specific match formats for each division will be finalized and communicated to the teams before the commencement of each league season. To encourage local participation, institution teams will be permitted to field players from Telangana without any restrictions on age, employment status, or stipend.

Furthermore, matches played within these revamped institution divisions will carry the same significance as other league matches. This ensures that performances will be fully considered for selection to the Super League and eventually for the state cricket team. The HCA stated that this initiative will provide a vital platform for young local talent to enter the formal league system.