Hanuma Vihari, a seasoned cricketer and former captain of Andhra Pradesh, has made a poignant statement outlining his decision to never represent the Andhra cricket team again. This declaration, shared on his social media platform, comes in the aftermath of Andhra’s exit from the quarterfinal stage of the Ranji Trophy 2023-24 season, coupled with a deeply unsettling incident experienced by Vihari.

He posted the following;

“We fought hard till the end but it wasn’t meant to be. Gutted to lose an another quarters with Andhra.

This post is about some facts I want to put forward. 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. 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 because I respect the game and my team.

Sad part is association thinks that players have to listen to whatever they say and players are there because of them. I felt humiliated and embarrassed but I’ve not expressed it outuntil today.

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.”

Vihari’s emotional revelation and impact

Vihari reveals an incident that left him deeply disheartened, explaining that he was pressured to resign from his captaincy role following the team’s first game of the season. This decision stemmed from an altercation where Vihari voiced his concerns to a player who happened to be the son of a prominent politician. This disagreement, coupled with internal conflicts, led to Vihari’s firm stance against continuing his association with the Andhra cricket team.

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Having represented Andhra in 37 first-class matches, Vihari’s decision marks a significant turning point in his career trajectory. His statement underscores the complexities within cricketing circles and sheds light on the challenges faced by players beyond their performances on the field. His resolve to stand by his principles resonates deeply within the cricketing community, sparking conversations about player welfare and administrative responsibilities.