"Andhra made it clear they were looking at youngsters..."- Hanuma Vihari reveals why he changed his state team to Tripura

Hanuma Vihari will be playing for Tripura in the domestic season 2025-26.

Indian Cricket Team batter Hanuma Vihari made the headlines after he changed his state team from Andhra Pradesh to Tripura. The right-hander will be one of three new entrants for the side in the upcoming domestic season 2025-26. 

Hanuma Vihari, who recently won the Player of the Tournament in the recently concluded Andhra Premier League, asked for the NOC from the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA), and the state board didn’t take long in granting that to the India batter. 

The reports in ESPNCricinfo claimed that Hanuma Vihari’s contract with Tripura will be for one year, and then it will be extended by mutual consent. This will be the second time that the batter changed his state. Earlier, he had some issues with one of the teammates, and then he left the side before making a return. 

I was keen on other opportunities since I believe I’m good enough to play all three formats – Hanuma Vihari

While talking about his decision to play for Tripura, Hanuma Vihari said that he wants to play all three formats, and ACA openly mentioned that they are looking at the youngsters. He added that he wanted to play in the new environment. Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, he said: 

“I was keen on other opportunities since I believe I’m good enough to play all three formats,” Vihari told ESPNcricinfo. “Andhra made it clear they were looking at youngsters for the T20 format. That was why I decided it didn’t make sense playing even the 50-over format, so I sat out of the Vijay Hazare Trophy as well. I also wanted to play in a new environment.”

Hanuma Vihari added that he has been planning to change his state team for the last two years. He highlighted that looking at his career currently, he said that this was the right time for him to change. He added: 

“For the last two seasons, I’d been talking of going out [he’d been in talks with Madhya Pradesh], but I stayed back,” Vihari said of the previous season. “I felt given the circumstances around me, and also where my own cricket is at, this was the best time to sign with an upcoming team. This year they approached me first, and I felt it would be a challenge worth taking up.”

Hanuma Vihari has been a stalwart in the Indian domestic circuit. The right-hander, who played a key role for India in tests, has scored 9585 runs in FC cricket. He has also slammed 24 tons and 51 fifties in the 131 games. 

In 97 List A games, he has slammed 3506 runs at an average of over 41. He also has hit five tons and 24 fifties. He has also scored 1707 runs in 89 T20 games.

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