On a scorching Saturday at Chennai’s CSK-HPC grounds, batting was a check of endurance and ability. Kodimela Himateja battled by 221 deliveries, solely to fall agonisingly in need of a century — a merciless twist on what might have been an ideal method to have a good time his twenty fourth birthday in a event ultimate.
“I might have grinded way more,” Himateja stated. “Would’ve been a particular one; nonetheless a great day although.”
His 97 in opposition to TNCA President’s XI within the Buchi Babu Invitational Event gave Hyderabad the higher hand, nevertheless it got here by sheer grit. “They have been disciplined, even slicing off singles, so it was about grinding by that section. Runs didn’t come simply within the center overs, however we hung in there,” Himateja instructed Sportstar.
Grinding by robust phases is one thing Himateja has executed all his life. Within the 2024-25 season, he turned the primary cricketer from Adilabad district in North Telangana to play Ranji Trophy for Hyderabad.
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“My journey has been robust however rewarding,” he stated. “Wanting again, I’ve climbed each step, and that have helps me now within the senior facet.” Since his First-Class debut, cricket has gained momentum in his district, with youngsters now taking the game severely and even contemplating it as a profession.
After his early days in district cricket, Himateja moved to Hyderabad in 2017 to play within the metropolis’s division leagues. “I studied engineering in Hyderabad and completed my diploma final yr,” he stated.
He made his mark in age-group cricket, captaining Hyderabad within the 2023-24 Col. CK Nayudu Trophy and amassing 851 runs in 9 innings at a median of 106.38, together with a highest rating of 299 in opposition to Baroda. His performances earned him a senior-team call-up for the 2024 Buchi Babu Trophy, the place he scored 243 runs in six innings. “Hyderabad already had a number of left-handers, so breaking by from the Beneath-23s meant quite a bit,” he mirrored.
Himateja’s performances in age-group cricket earned him a senior-team call-up for the 2024 Buchi Babu Trophy, the place he scored 243 runs in six innings.
| Picture Credit score:
JOTHI RAMALINGAM B
Himateja’s performances in age-group cricket earned him a senior-team call-up for the 2024 Buchi Babu Trophy, the place he scored 243 runs in six innings.
| Picture Credit score:
JOTHI RAMALINGAM B
In his maiden First-Class season, he proved he belonged, scoring 523 runs in seven video games and establishing himself as a key member of the facet. “I believe this recreation is all about persistence, and I’ve proven that. When issues get robust, should you grind it out, the sport opens up. That’s when the runs come,” he stated.
With classes from final season and the continued Buchi Babu Trophy, Himateja feels his understanding of the sport has deepened. “Even this preparatory event has been an enormous studying curve. With every passing match, I’ve understood extra concerning the depth of the sport.”
Now, he needs to show that progress right into a breakthrough marketing campaign. “The competitors is excessive all over the place, and doing effectively within the Duleep Trophy or India A could be an enormous step. For now, although, I’m specializing in one recreation at a time.”
Printed on Sep 06, 2025