Hanuma Vihari reveals shocking reason behind stepping down as captain in Ranji Trophy, vows not to play for Andra Pradesh again

Team India and Andhra Pradesh cricketer Hanuma Vihari has ripped into the state association after his side’s Ranji Trophy quarterfinal defeat to Madhya Pradesh in Indore on Monday. Detailing his row with the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA), the veteran batter wrote an emotional note on social media and confirmed that he will never play for Andhra again. 

Advertisment

Vihari started the 2024 Ranji season as Andhra Pradesh's captain but stepped down from the role after the opening league match. With Vihari continuing to play as a top-order batter, the reins were handed over to Ricky Bhui. Now, after his team's exit from the tournament, the 30-year-old has revealed the shocking reason behind leaving the captaincy.  

The right-handed batter revealed that he was involved in an incident with a squad member who happened to be the son of a politician and was then asked by the association to resign from the leadership role. Vihari said he felt embarrassed by the ACA and vowed not to play for the state again as he had lost his self-respect. 

“I was the captain in the first game against Bengal, during that game I shouted on 17th player and he complained to his dad(who is a politician), his dad in return asked the Association to take action against me. Although, we chased 410 against last year’s finalists Bengal I was asked to resign from captaincy without any fault of mine,” he wrote on Instagram.

Advertisment

Vihari, who has played 37 first-class matches for Andhra, led the state to the quarter-final last season as well. Notably, he will always be remembered for leading India to a historic draw against Australia in the third Test of the 2021 series. Vihari, who was hampered by a severe hamstring injury, and Ravichandran Ashwin put on a defiant partnership at the Sydney Cricket Ground. However, he mentioned that the ACA undermined all his efforts just to save the politician's son.

“I never said anything on a personal note to the player but the association thought that player was more important than the guy who gave his body on the line last year and batted left-handed, took Andhra to knock outs 5 times in the last 7 years and played for India in 16 Tests. I felt embarrassed but the only reason I continued playing this season was because I respect the game and my team,” Vihari added. 

“Sad part is the association thinks that players have to listen to whatever they say and players are there because of them. I’ve decided that I’ll never play for Andhra where i lost my self respect. I love the team. I love the way we’re growing every season but association doesn’t want us to grow,” he concluded.

Advertisment

Prudhvi Raj (politician's son) breaks his silence 

Meanwhile, the player whom Hanuma Vihari was talking about broke his silence on the matter. Prudhvi Raj wrote on his Instagram that he is the one the Indian cricket was talking about. He dismissed all Vihari's claims and accused the former Andhra captain of doing all this to gain sympathy. 

"Hello everyone iam that guy, you guys are searching in that comment box, what ever you guys heard is absolute false, no one is higher then game and my self respect is much more bigger then anything, personal attacks and vulger language is unacceptable in any kind of human platform Everyone in team knows what has happened in that day, Nuvu inthaku minchi emmi pikkulevu mr so called champion..Play this sympathy games, however u want."