Ranji Trophy 2023-24 – Hanuma Vihari – ‘Political interference compelled me to go away Andhra captaincy’
Hanuma Vihari has determined to “by no means play for Andhra” once more, saying the remedy he obtained by the hands of the Andhra Cricket Affiliation (ACA) throughout the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy has left him “humiliated”.He made his revelation not lengthy after Andhra’s desires of progressing to the Ranji Trophy semi-final for the primary time got here to a heartbreaking finish as they misplaced to Madhya Pradesh by 4 runs in Indore.Vihari had led Andhra’s chase of 170 with a preventing 55, the highest rating of their second innings. He ended the Ranji season with 522 runs in 13 innings, the second-highest for Andhra after Ricky Bhui’s tally of 902.In an Instagram submit, Vihari alleged that he was compelled to step down as captain following Andhra’s opening spherical fixture towards Bengal in January. On the time, he had cited private causes for the choice, however stated on Saturday that the reality was that the affiliation had taken “motion” towards him due to political interference.
“I used to be captain within the first recreation towards Bengal, and throughout the recreation, I shouted at seventeenth participant, and he complained to his dad (who’s a politician),” Vihari wrote. “His dad in return requested the affiliation to take motion towards me. Though we chased 410 towards final 12 months’s finalists Bengal [for a first-innings lead], I used to be requested to resign from captaincy with none fault of mine.
“I by no means stated something on a private observe to the participant, however the affiliation thought the participant was extra essential than the man who gave his physique on the road final 12 months and batted left-handed, took Andhra to the knockouts 5 occasions within the final seven years and performed for India in 16 Exams.”
The ACA issued an announcement in response later within the day, during which it stated there have been questions round Vihari’s captaincy stint. “It has got here to our consideration that Mr Vihari personally verbally abused a particular participant throughout the Bengal Ranji recreation in entrance of everybody,” the assertion stated. “The affected participant filed an official criticism with the ACA.”
The affiliation additional stated the choice to take away Vihari as captain was taken by the chairman of the choice committee as a consequence of “Vihari’s standing as an India prospect affecting his season-long availability”.*
On his half, Vihari stated he had been “humiliated and embarrassed” within the aftermath of the episode, however carried on taking part in underneath Bhui as Andhra secured the second spot in Group B with three outright victories in seven matches.
“I felt embarrassed however the one cause I continued taking part in this season is as a result of I respect the sport and my workforce,” he stated. “Unhappy half is affiliation thinks that gamers must hearken to no matter they are saying, and gamers are there due to them. I felt humiliated and embarrassed, however I’ve not expressed it till immediately.”
By the way, Vihari ended the season towards Madhya Pradesh, the workforce he had been tipped to maneuver to and lead previous to the present season. Vihari had been in talks with Chandrakant Pandit, the Madhya Pradesh coach, and the affiliation there over the opportunity of taking part in as knowledgeable, the place he would been anticipated to shore up a powerful batting line-up comprising Rajat Patidar, Venkatesh Iyer and Shubham Sharma amongst others.
Nevertheless, that deal fell via on the final second, the explanations for which neither celebration has specified. ESPNcricinfo understands that he was persuaded by ACA to remain on previous to the Duleep Trophy, the place he led South Zone to the title.
Having began his profession with Hyderabad, Vihari moved to Andhra in 2015-16. He then briefly returned to Hyderabad previous to the 2021-22 season earlier than shifting to Andhra once more.
Vihari hasn’t been a part of India’s Check squad since July 2022, after they performed the ultimate Check of the five-match sequence in England, roughly a year-and-a-half after his most well-known efficiency for India, in Sydney.
In his 16-match Check profession so far, Vihari has scored 839 runs at a mean of 33.56 along with his lone century coming within the West Indies.
*The story was up to date with the ACA’s response.
