Varun Goud keeps batting.
He’s not in your face, but never out of sight; he refuses to walk away easily. That has been evident in the ongoing Buchi Babu Tournament, where he has scored 371 runs in seven innings at an average of 92.75.
It is hardly a surprise, though – it’s a habit he has carried since his age-group days. In the Vijay Merchant Under-16 Trophy (2015-16), he amassed 645 runs in seven innings at 107.50, and two years later, in the Cooch Behar Trophy, he was even more prolific with 880 runs in nine innings at 110.
But when you mention his average, he waves it away. “Don’t tell me all of this, I still have to bat in the final, hopefully,” Goud said with a smile.
On Tuesday, Hyderabad was in trouble at 66 for four in the semifinal against Haryana. Under an overcast sky, Goud walked in and stitched a crucial 104-run stand with Hima Teja. It wasn’t about quick runs, but time. He absorbed pressure, defended when required, and rotated the strike to steady the innings. After nearly two sessions at the crease and with Hyderabad in control, he fell agonisingly short of a century, dismissed for 91.
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“I missed out on a hundred, but the innings was very satisfying,” Goud told Sportstar. “The team needed me to stay there, and I managed to do that. Of course, it would have been nice to remain unbeaten with a century, but the contribution mattered more.”
Even though he had scored an unbeaten ton in the previous match against Madhya Pradesh, Goud rates this knock higher. “The wicket was challenging, and when I walked in, we had lost quick wickets. Building a partnership from that position was very satisfying.”
For someone who scored heavily in age-group and local cricket, Goud had to wait his turn in the longer format. “I thought runs in age-group cricket would make it easier, but it didn’t happen like I expected. Eventually, I got my chance last year,” he said.
He made his First-Class debut against Himachal Pradesh in the 2024-25 season, scoring 36. “It was nothing big, but impactful because of the situation. That gave me confidence and a good start,” the 25-year-old recalled.
Until then, Goud was seen more as a limited-overs player. He made his List-A debut in 2023 and announced himself with a century — 109 off 82 balls, while helping Hyderabad chase down 321 against Karnataka. But adjusting to red-ball cricket has taken time.
“Shifting from white ball to red ball does take a little adjustment. Red-ball cricket tests your character and temperament. In white ball, the game keeps changing quickly, but in red ball, the situations tend to be similar for long periods. It’s about being patient, not rushing or panicking under pressure. That’s the main difference I’ve felt,” he explained.
It’s an approach shaped as much by his peers as by experience. During his time with Jolly Rovers club in the 2022 season, Goud recalled a conversation with teammate Sai Sudharsan: “He told me there’s nothing gifted or natural. Whatever it is, you learn through practice. If you keep experiencing situations in training, then in a match, it just becomes another situation you already know how to handle. Any skillset can be achieved through mindful, consistent practice.”
A lot of his learning, he says, has also come from his conversations with the former fielding coach of India, R. Sridhar, whom he calls his “go-to person.” “He’s empathetic, understands where you’re coming from, and every chat with him is productive. Even before this tournament and after scoring runs, I spoke with him. He always reminds me to stay in the present – it’s not about fifties or hundreds, it’s about what’s next and how to adapt.”
For Goud, the immediate goal is clear: to be in Hyderabad’s Ranji Trophy squad this season and make a mark in red-ball cricket. And the Buchi Babu Tournament has given him “a very good preparation for the season.”
Published on Sep 02, 2025
