Hanuma Vihari vs Prudhviraj saga: Who said what and all you need to know

A major controversy took place between Hanuma Vihari and Prudhvi Raj during Ranji Trophy 2023-24.

Veteran Indian batter Hanuma Vihari revealed that he will never play for Andhra in domestic cricket after being made to leave captaincy of the team in between the ongoing Ranji Trophy season by the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA).

Hanuma Vihari’s revelation came after Andhra lost to Madhya Pradesh by five runs in the quarter-finals of the Ranji Trophy 2023/24 season at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Monday.

Vihari, who started the season as Andhra’s captain against Bengal, was asked to give up leadership duties after the opening league game of the Ranji Trophy 2023-24. The captaincy reins were handed over to Ricky Bhui, with Vihari continuing in his primary role as a top-order batter.

Hanuma Viharis opens up on why he left Andhra captaincy

After a heartbreaking lost against Madhya Pradesh by five runs in the Ranji Trophy 2023-24 quarter-finals, Andhra Pradesh batter Hanuma Vihari took it to his Instagram and ‘X’ handle (formerly Twitter) and revealed why he left Andhra captaincy. The veteran batter also exposed ACA for their political interference in removing him from Andhra captaincy.

“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,” Vihari wrote on Instagram shortly after the defeat.

Vihari revealed that he was asked to resign from the captaincy position after the first game, following an altercation with a player who happened to be the son of a prominent politician which led it to removal of leadership role.

“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.

Ranji Trophy 2023/24 pic.twitter.com/PXHNG487BQ

— Hanuma vihari (@Hanumavihari) February 26, 2024

Sympathy Game: – Andhra batter Prudhviraj replies to Hanuma Vihari’s on political favoritism

After Andhra’s quarter-final loss against Madhya Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy 2023–24 season, Vihari hit out at the Andhra Cricket Association for entertaining political interference. 

Vihari opened up by saying that he once shouted at the 17th player of the Andhra squad, who was son of a politician. According to Vihari, the Andhra wicket-keeper, Prudhvi Raj, then complained to his dad, which led to Vihari’s removal from the captaincy.

Soon after Hanuma Vihari’s Instagram and Twitter posts went viral on social media, Andhra Pradesh batter Prudhvi Raj hit back with a post on Instagram, where he called Vihari’s claims false and added that there is no one above the cricket. Raj also wrote in his Instargam story that Vihari is simply taking 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. Play this sympathy games, however u want,” Andhra batter Prudhvi Raj wrote.

Andhra Pradesh team members supports Hanuma Vihari

A major twist took place in the ongoing Hanuma Vihari vs Prudhviraj saga, the veteran batter Vihari showed a signed letter submitted to ACA by the Andhra cricketers, who want Hanuma Vihari to continue as the captain of the Andhra Pradesh cricket team. The letter also contains signatures from 15 players of the team, signifying support for Vihari.

“The whole team knows,” Hanuma Vihari wrote in his tweet as he attached the picture of the letter.

The whole team knows! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/l5dFkmjGN9

— Hanuma vihari (@Hanumavihari) February 26, 2024

The 30-year-old Vihari had led Andhra Pradesh to the quarter-finals of the Ranji Trophy in 2022-23 as well. Vihari finished the 2023-24 Ranji season as the second-highest run scorer for Andhra Pradesh with 522 runs in eight matches, including a ton and three half-centuries.

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