Ten years ago, Mohammed Siraj was a Ranji Trophy breakout star. In his first full season (2016-17), he finished as the third-highest wicket-taker (41 wickets in nine matches at an average of 18.92). On Tuesday, he wrapped up his first win while captaining the side that launched a career that took him to international stage.

Between the two lies an India career and a drive Siraj says has not changed.

“I still have the same hunger and passion that I had when I made my debut [for Hyderabad]. When I’m replacing someone [in the team], my intention is to create magic for the team,” he declared.

“To win our first match of the season and my first match as a captain is an amazing feeling. [Getting a bonus point] is a big boost for us and we want to carry this forward.”

On a red-soil pitch that didn’t hand pacers an easy ride, he said hard work made the difference. “Red soil wickets are always helpful to fast bowlers. But this wasn’t.”

Spinners, meanwhile, made the most of the surface: 30 wickets fell in total, with tweakers bagging 27 and one being a runout. The remaining two were scalped by Siraj himself.

The 32-year-old also credited Wasim Jaffer, roped in as a mentor to all teams in HCA’s purview, for his role in the team.

“Wasim bhai is always telling batters where and how to score. He made sure we stayed focused. He’s a domestic legend and knows how to play on these wickets.”

Cricket administrators in Hyderabad have long made more headlines for infighting and allegations of financial impropriety than for cricket. Now the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) is trying to change that, and at the centre of that push is M. Jeevan Reddy, who took charge as HCA’s secretary in March.

Two key appointments followed: Ambati Rayudu leading the Cricket Operations Committee and Wasim Jaffer as mentor to every team under its umbrella, both coming on board only after being guaranteed an interference-free environment.

The inaugural edition of TG20 followed, a small but important new feather in a dusty, worn-out cap.

“Anybody in Hyderabad has the opportunity to engage with the best sporting infrastructure. But how about rural Telangana? They don’t have basic facilities, like grounds or nets to practice, or coaches. I wanted to focus on rural cricketing activity when I came in,” Jeevan told The Hindu.

Jeevan has not been shy in seeking help when required. For instance, he roped in people associated with the Tamil Nadu Premier League for the smooth functioning of TG20. This helped more than 150 players get a grand stage to showcase their talent, with some even snapping up trial opportunities with IPL teams.

While international cricket returns to the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium after two long years next month, the bigger talking point has been the recent announcement by the State government of a world-class cricket stadium spread across a 100-acre site in Future City.

“We are working towards having a capacity of around 80 to 90 thousand. It’ll also have an academy attached, along with a hotel, a recreational area and three or four practice grounds.

“When you look at where the existing stadium is located, it is not possible to expand it. We are limited by safety challenges. The road approaching the stadium is very narrow, and it is between residential areas. So holding any event there creates a lot of challenges for the residents.”

An interest in being part of an expanding Women’s Premier League canopy is another reason he cited for wanting a new venue.

“In the next two years, there could be three more teams coming in, and then hopefully the matches will also come to Hyderabad. If everything goes according to plan, somebody from Hyderabad itself could own a team,” he explained, stopping short of revealing much more.

On the domestic front, the Gymkhana Ground, a regular Ranji Trophy host in the city, is undergoing major changes ahead of the upcoming season.

“Most pitches are flat these days. There is not a lot of swing now. So we wanted to create an environment where both batters and bowlers can do well and have surfaces that give momentum to the bowlers too.”