iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
A narrow two-run victory helped the Comet Cricket Club from University of Texas at Dallas retain its National College Cricket Association title, marking back-to-back championships for the team.
The final, played on March 22 at the Prairie View Cricket Complex near Houston, saw the UT Dallas side edge past Northeastern University in a closely contested match.
The team remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, which featured 16 teams in its second leg. It follows their dominant campaign last year, when they lifted the title with a 40-run win over the University of Florida.
Despite the repeat success, the squad looked very different from the previous season. Captain Firasuddin Syed said the team had to rebuild after several players graduated.
“We only had five players continuing from last year due to graduations,” he said, as quoted by UT Dallas. “We had a whole new group of players, including three freshmen, who were very enthusiastic. The younger players are definitely uplifting. There’s never a shortage of energy.”
The final itself was far from straightforward, with the team pushed until the last moment.
“We really had to fight to the very last ball,” said Syed, who was named best batsman in the championship.
The club, though not part of the university’s official recreation sports program, has built a strong following among students and alumni. For some players, it also serves as a stepping stone to higher levels of the game.
“We have a few players who aspire to play professionally. This club is a good platform to perform at a university level. Many students who want to play cricket for a living would love to come to UT Dallas to play with us,” he said.
Several members have already had professional exposure.
“We have three players who have played professionally in the Minor League Cricket’s 2025 season,” Syed said. “I played for the Dallas Xforia Giants and continue to pursue professional cricket opportunities across the country. Ansh Bhoje played for the MetroPlex Tracers, and Rishi Ramesh played for the Baltimore Royals.”
Former club president and player Sathvik Reddy Bellamkonda said the team’s commitment goes beyond the field, with players balancing academics, jobs, and training.
“We practice in Frisco or Plano once a week,” Bellamkonda said. “We also schedule matches against UT Austin and UT Arlington to prepare for the national tournament.”
The team’s journey to the championship was supported by alumni contributions, fundraising efforts, and backing from the university.
University leadership also acknowledged the achievement, highlighting the balance between academic and extracurricular success.
“The best part of UT Dallas is our students,” said Rafael Martin, vice president for administration and chief of operations. “The Comet Cricket Club capturing its second national championship demonstrates that success in the classroom and success in extracurricular endeavors are highly correlated. We could not be prouder of this team and their achievement.”
Photo: news.utdallas.edu