Ambati Rayudu Breaks Silence On Telangana T20 Case Filed vs Tilak Varma, Mohammed Siraj

Ambati Rayudu Breaks Silence On Telangana T20 Case [Source: AFP]

In the latest development, former Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu has reacted to the controversy revolving around an unauthorised T20 league promoted by Tilak Varma, Mohammed Siraj and several other celebrities.

The fiasco erupted after Varma, Siraj, actors Vijay Deverakonda and Venkatesh Daggubati were served a legal notice from the Telangana Cricket Association (TCA) for promoting the TG20 League, a T20 tournament in Telangana.

The TCA claims that the TG20 League does not have approval from the BCCI, and hence the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) allegedly cannot conduct commercial cricket activities without proper BCCI authorisation. 

Ambati Rayudu comes clean on TCA’s allegations

To defend the allegations, HCA’s newly appointed director of cricket operations, Ambati Rayudu, came forward. In a social media message, he clarified that HCA has no operational role in the TG20 League.

He explained that the league is controlled by the TG20 Governing Council, not the Hyderabad Cricket Association. Rayudu added that his support is only because the tournament could provide opportunities for young Telangana cricketers.

While Ambati Rayudu has come clean, Tilak Varma and Mohammed Siraj have not publicly responded to the notices yet. Varma is currently representing India A in Sri Lanka and recently became India's T20I vice-captain. 

Siraj, on the other hand, was part of India's plans but was rested for the Ireland T20I series to manage his workload.

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Telangana Lokayukta orders CID probe into HCA

In another controversy, the Telangana Lokayukta has ordered a CID investigation into alleged financial irregularities involving the HCA. The order came after complaints were filed by the TCA, which accused HCA of several financial and administrative issues.

The complaints include allegations of financial irregularities worth more than ₹600 crore over 15 years, alleged unauthorised transfer of 18 GHMC-affiliated cricket clubs to private individuals and alleged transfer of ₹69 crore from HCA funds to Visaka Industries.

The Lokayukta has directed the CID to investigate these claims and submit a report within four weeks. It’s clear TCA is on a rampage against HCA, as with back-to-back legal allegations, the latter appears to be in big trouble.

Rayudu joined HCA in May 2026

That being said, former cricketer Ambati Rayudu was appointed as the director of cricket operations in the HCA in May 2026 on a three-year term. His primary role is to fight against corruption, improve transparency and improve domestic cricket systems.

Rayudu's return to Hyderabad cricket is interesting because his relationship with the HCA was previously controversial. In 2019, he had criticised the association, alleging rampant corruption and claiming that team selections were influenced by politics. 

Following that episode, Ambati Rayudu left Hyderabad cricket and represented Andhra Pradesh and Baroda before eventually retiring from domestic cricket.

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