On a scorching Saturday at Chennai’s CSK-HPC grounds, batting was a test of endurance and skill. Kodimela Himateja battled through 221 deliveries, only to fall agonisingly short of a century — a cruel twist on what could have been a perfect way to celebrate his 24th birthday in a tournament final.
“I could have grinded much more,” Himateja said. “Would’ve been a special one; still a good day though.”
His 97 against TNCA President’s XI in the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament gave Hyderabad the upper hand, but it came through sheer grit. “They were disciplined, even cutting off singles, so it was about grinding through that phase. Runs didn’t come easily in the middle overs, but we hung in there,” Himateja told Sportstar.
Grinding through tough phases is something Himateja has done all his life. In the 2024-25 season, he became the first cricketer from Adilabad district in North Telangana to play Ranji Trophy for Hyderabad.
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“My journey has been tough but rewarding,” he said. “Looking back, I’ve climbed every step, and that experience helps me now in the senior side.” Since his First-Class debut, cricket has gained momentum in his district, with kids now taking the sport seriously and even considering it as a career.
After his early days in district cricket, Himateja moved to Hyderabad in 2017 to play in the city’s division leagues. “I studied engineering in Hyderabad and finished my degree last year,” he said.
He made his mark in age-group cricket, captaining Hyderabad in the 2023-24 Col. CK Nayudu Trophy and amassing 851 runs in nine innings at an average of 106.38, including a highest score of 299 against Baroda. His performances earned him a senior-team call-up for the 2024 Buchi Babu Trophy, where he scored 243 runs in six innings. “Hyderabad already had a lot of left-handers, so breaking through from the Under-23s meant a lot,” he reflected.
His performances in age-group cricket earned him a senior-team call-up for the 2024 Buchi Babu Trophy, where he scored 243 runs in six innings.
| Photo Credit:
JOTHI RAMALINGAM B
His performances in age-group cricket earned him a senior-team call-up for the 2024 Buchi Babu Trophy, where he scored 243 runs in six innings.
| Photo Credit:
JOTHI RAMALINGAM B
In his maiden First-Class season, he proved he belonged, scoring 523 runs in seven games and establishing himself as a key member of the side. “I think this game is all about patience, and I’ve shown that. When things get tough, if you grind it out, the game opens up. That’s when the runs come,” he said.
With lessons from last season and the ongoing Buchi Babu Trophy, Himateja feels his understanding of the game has deepened. “Even this preparatory tournament has been a huge learning curve. With each passing match, I’ve understood more about the depth of the game.”
Now, he wants to turn that growth into a breakthrough campaign. “The competition is high everywhere, and doing well in the Duleep Trophy or India A would be a big step. For now, though, I’m focusing on one game at a time.”
Published on Sep 06, 2025
