<p>The home of the Hyderabad Ranji Trophy team, the stadium has hardly seen its favourite sons on the winning side. The Deccan Chargers have lost 14 matches here in three seasons, while India have been beaten in all three one-day internationals and drew the only Test here, against New Zealand last November.<br /><br />Every effort to rid the ‘jinx’ has gone in vain. Now, Hyderabad Cricket Association officials are banking on divine intervention to do the trick.<br /><br />On the eve of the first one-dayer against England, a statue of Lord Ganesha was installed in front of the main entrance to the stadium after prolonged consultations with select astrologers. This comes on the back of several ‘pujas’ in the past, as well as swapping dressing rooms.<br /><br />“The belief we have is that Bal Ganesha will ward off all evils,” said HCA secretary DS Chalapathi, desperately hoping that India’s Uppal jinx ends at the earliest.<br /><br />India’s cricketers are not unaware of their poor record here, though as Mahendra Singh Dhoni said, it’s not something they needed to be reminded about. “We play throughout the year, and this is something we should not remember about,” the Indian captain said. “It’s not only about the result, the process is important too. And we are well prepared for the series. Let’s hope it will be the first win for the Hyderabad venue.”<br /><br />The dressing room swap elicited an amused response from the Jharkhandi. “I think they have swapped the dressing room in the past too,” he laughed. “We have been in both dressing rooms (usually, one is fixed for the home team and the other for the ‘away’ team), and honestly, I don’t know where we were the last time we played here.”<br />Cricket, it would seem, is not just about bat and ball anymore. Oh, for a victory! Whatever it takes! That’s the fervent wish all around Uppal.<br /><br /></p>
<p>The home of the Hyderabad Ranji Trophy team, the stadium has hardly seen its favourite sons on the winning side. The Deccan Chargers have lost 14 matches here in three seasons, while India have been beaten in all three one-day internationals and drew the only Test here, against New Zealand last November.<br /><br />Every effort to rid the ‘jinx’ has gone in vain. Now, Hyderabad Cricket Association officials are banking on divine intervention to do the trick.<br /><br />On the eve of the first one-dayer against England, a statue of Lord Ganesha was installed in front of the main entrance to the stadium after prolonged consultations with select astrologers. This comes on the back of several ‘pujas’ in the past, as well as swapping dressing rooms.<br /><br />“The belief we have is that Bal Ganesha will ward off all evils,” said HCA secretary DS Chalapathi, desperately hoping that India’s Uppal jinx ends at the earliest.<br /><br />India’s cricketers are not unaware of their poor record here, though as Mahendra Singh Dhoni said, it’s not something they needed to be reminded about. “We play throughout the year, and this is something we should not remember about,” the Indian captain said. “It’s not only about the result, the process is important too. And we are well prepared for the series. Let’s hope it will be the first win for the Hyderabad venue.”<br /><br />The dressing room swap elicited an amused response from the Jharkhandi. “I think they have swapped the dressing room in the past too,” he laughed. “We have been in both dressing rooms (usually, one is fixed for the home team and the other for the ‘away’ team), and honestly, I don’t know where we were the last time we played here.”<br />Cricket, it would seem, is not just about bat and ball anymore. Oh, for a victory! Whatever it takes! That’s the fervent wish all around Uppal.<br /><br /></p>
