Hyderabad bank on Tilak Varma

Hyderabad: Thakur Tilak Varma will be expected to bring some team India ethic to the Hyderabad dressing room in his first match as the state captain. Relegated to the Plate group after a string of poor performances last season, Hyderabad will take on Nagaland in Dimapur in their Ranji Trophy opener beginning Friday.Tilak has gained immensely by being with the Indian team in the shorter formats — the latest being in South Africa- and that experience should stand him in good stead as he looks to inject some positivity into a team that has suffered for various reasons over the last few seasons. It is not the first instance of Hyderabad being relegated and the team has lurched from one setback to another. If the current season does not serve as a rude wake-up call, nothing will.Head coach DB Ravi Teja, a former opener for Hyderabad and Andhra before moving to Meghalaya will be aware of the conditions Hyderabad will encounter in the north-east. It is a young team but players like former captain Tanmay Agarwal have been on the circuit long enough to know the importance of consistent performance. CV Milind will helm the bowling attack and Hyderabad should pack too many guns for Rongsen Jonathan-led Nagaland.