Hanuma Vihari’s recent announcement on social media that he won’t play for Andhra Pradesh after resigning from the captaincy has sparked discussions within the cricketing community. In response to Vihari’s revelation, Ravichandran Ashwin has extended an invitation to him as a guest on his YouTube talk show, ‘Kutty Stories.’
Ravichandran Ashwin took to social media, saying, “Respected Vihari, are you ready?” Vihari promptly responded, “Whenever you’re ready, I am too.”
Meru Epudu ante apudu https://t.co/AQFP44g4ta
— Hanuma vihari (@Hanumavihari) February 26, 2024
Hanuma Vihari’s decision to step back from Andhra comes on the heels of their defeat to Madhya Pradesh by a narrow margin of five runs in the quarterfinals of the Ranji Trophy 2023/24 season at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.
In a detailed social media post, Vihari shed light on the circumstances leading to his resignation from the captaincy. He revealed an incident during the game against Bengal where he shouted at the 17th player, resulting in a complaint to his father, a politician. Subsequently, the association asked him to step down from captaincy, despite the team’s impressive chase of 410 against Bengal.
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Expressing his feelings, Hanuma Vihari stated, “I felt embarrassed, but the only reason I continued playing this season was because I respect the game and my team. The sad part is the association thinks that players have to listen to whatever they say and that players are there because of them. I felt humiliated and embarrassed, but I’ve not expressed it out until today.”
In response to Vihari’s announcement, the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) accused him of verbally abusing teammates and misbehaving with coaches and support staff. The ACA claimed that in January 2024, following the first Ranji Trophy game, they proposed a new captain due to Vihari’s status as an Indian prospect affecting his season-long availability.
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Hanuma Vihari, in response, appreciated the decision, leading to Ricky Bhui being announced as the new captain. The unfolding events have brought attention to the internal dynamics within the Andhra cricket setup, and Ravichandran Ashwin’s invitation to Vihari on his talk show is anticipated to provide more insights into the matter. Cricket enthusiasts await the upcoming episode of ‘Kutty Stories’ to hear Vihari’s perspective on the challenging situation.
