Wasim Jaffer appointed Hyderabad's mentor ahead of 2026-27 domestic season

Wasim Jaffer has been appointed mentor of the Hyderabad team. The former India opener, widely regarded as one of the giants of Indian domestic cricket with a perfect batting technique, will oversee the side for the next two years. Jaffer is the top-scorer in Indian domestic cricket history. A top official of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) confirmed the development to Cricket Mazza. "It is almost finalised, pending a few technicalities. We should formally announce the decision tomorrow (June 30)," HCA secretary T Basavaraju told this website. Jaffer also informed this website that he had accepted the position. It is believed that Ambati Rayudu, who was recently appointed Director of Cricket by the Hyderabad Cricket Association, was the driving force behind Jaffer's appointment. "Clearly, it is a decision taken by Rayudu, who has been authorised to make calls on cricketing matters," an HCA official told Cricket Mazza. It was impossible to reach Rayudu for a response. Jaffer will work closely with the coaching staff of Hyderabad whose appointments are yet to be confirmed for the season. T Ravi Teja was the head coach last year. Wasim Jaffer (48), who played 31 Tests and two ODIs for India, is an experienced hand on the domestic coaching circuit. He previously coached Uttarakhand and, last season, served as the batting consultant to the Vidarbha team. He has also worked with the Bangladesh national cricket team and the Punjab Kings in the IPL. Hyderabad, two-time Ranji Trophy champions (1937-38 and 1986-87), have not been a force in domestic cricket in recent years. They finished fourth in Elite Group B of the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 competition, they topped Elite Group B but finished second in Super League Group B, missing out on the final on NRR to eventual runners-up Haryana. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, they finished sixth in Group B and failed to qualify for the quarterfinals.