Farmlands turn cricket grounds

From Cherlapally to Chevella, Hyderabad’s new cricket corridor is changing the contours of recreation, turning farmlands into thriving weekend sporting hubs driven by the city’s growing corporate cricket culture

T P Venu  I hyderabad

It is 5.30 a.m. on a Sunday. Surya Sainath, Shailender and their brother-in-law Raj Kumar are already on the phone, coordinating their weekly cricket outing at one of the many grounds that have sprung up around Cherlapally and Chengicherla. Once, aspiring cricketers flocked to Parade Grounds and Osmania University Grounds. Today, many prefer the lush, well-maintained turf wickets on Hyderabad's outskirts.

India's obsession with cricket is reflected in the remarkable growth of private cricket grounds around Hyderabad. According to Goutham Reddy, who owns four grounds—Rainbow 1 & 2 and Melbourne 1 & 2 at Kasimbowli village near Amdapur in Moinabad mandal—there are nearly 250 cricket grounds in Ranga Reddy district alone.

"People are willing to travel even up to Chevella if the facilities are good," he says.

One of the biggest drivers behind this growth is Hyderabad's corporate workforce. After spending long hours in offices through the week, employees increasingly seek weekend cricket as a way to unwind.

"We slog for five days a week and look forward to playing on weekends," says Ch. Sriram, Delivery Manager at TSP Tech Pvt. Ltd.The passion cuts across professions. Even Telangana Director General of Police C.V. Anand, a regular for Secunderabad Club in the HCA League, once remarked, "I yearn all week for the Sunday league."

An estimated 2,000 corporate teams now participate in weekend tournaments across the city. As open grounds within Hyderabad have shrunk and traditional venues like Parade Grounds are available only for limited periods, farmers on the outskirts have stepped in to bridge the gap.

"The returns are good, and almost every ground is fully booked on weekends," says Goutham Reddy. "My land wasn't suitable for cultivation, so converting it into cricket grounds made economic sense."

Moinabad: Hyderabad's Cricket Hub

The Moinabad-Chevella stretch has emerged as the city's biggest cricket destination, with nearly 250 grounds operating in the region. Landowners attribute the rapid growth partly to GO 111, which restricts urban development and construction in the area, making recreational land use an attractive alternative.

The transformation began in the early 2000s when companies started organising weekend sporting events for employees. As corporate cricket gained popularity, amateur cricketers also shifted towards shorter-format tournaments.

"HCA league matches have become irregular. Earlier we played 14 to 18 matches a season; now it's down to four or five. Weekend tournaments have become the preferred option," says Mohit, a regular participant.

Sainath believes changing lifestyles have also played a role.

"People no longer have time for 50-over matches. Twenty-over games fit much better into busy schedules," he says.

For some landowners, cricket grounds serve another purpose.

"Keeping the land active helps protect it from encroachments while generating steady income," says Samarsena Reddy Samala, owner of SMR Greenfield Cricket Ground.

The names of these venues reflect cricket's global appeal—22 Yards, Stumps, Bails, Downtown, Melbourne and Lords are among the popular choices.

Technology has further fuelled the trend. Apps such as Groundwala and Maa Booking help users locate grounds, compare prices, check availability and connect with tournament organisers. Many groups now combine weekend cricket with overnight farmhouse stays along the Moinabad-Chevella corridor. Goutham says, “Corporate employees insist on good grounds and are ready to tarvel any distane.” 

However, the rapid conversion of farmland has also raised concerns.

According to Kiran Kumar Vissa, State Committee member of Rythu Swarajya Vedika, peri-urban agricultural land is steadily giving way to recreational ventures. "Vegetables traditionally came from areas close to the city. As more farmland is converted into cricket grounds, cultivation is pushed farther away. Places like Sun City were once agricultural land," he points out.

Hyderabad's booming cricket culture has created a thriving weekend economy that benefits farmers, entrepreneurs, app-based service providers and thousands of amateur players. What began as a response to the shortage of urban playgrounds has evolved into a profitable business model, with the Moinabad-Chevella belt emerging as the city's unofficial cricket corridor. Yet, the trend also raises important questions about the long-term impact on peri-urban agriculture and land use. As cricket grounds continue to multiply, policymakers will have to strike a balance between promoting recreation, protecting agricultural land and ensuring sustainable development around Hyderabad's rapidly expanding outskirts.

Economics of transforming a farmland

The minimum area required to create a ground is 4 acres if the diameter is good in other words; 150 meters by 150 meters is required. Even if there is 10 acres of land but the diameter isn’t suitable, it would not work.

It costs Rs 30 lakh to develop a ground and the amount is not refundable. 

It should be 65 meters from the center of the ground.  

Depending on the location of the ground, the rent per month varies anywhere between Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000 per month.

Why farmers are attracted?

If a farmer leases out 4 acres, he gets an assured income of Rs 40,000 to Rs 60,000 per month If a farmer develops the ground on his own and conducts matches, he saves anywhere between Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh per month. A grounds man lives at the site and takes care of the ground, minimum salary is Rs 20,000 per month

Three slots per day

There are three slots per day starting from 6 a.m. and some grounds have flood lights and there can be four matches per day. The charges vary based on the facilities provided. Tournament organisers provide jerseys, balls, and all matches are conducted with qualified umpires. The scoring is done through Apps and in many tournaments, the matches are recorded.