The former captain and batter Hanuma Vihari has left an emotional quote on social media revealing the reason for stepping down from Andhra Captaincy during the Ranji Trophy 2024.
Vihari reveals his reason for stepping down from Andhra Captaincy
Hanuma Vihari stepped down from Andhra Captaincy on January 11. He then played as the batter throughout the tournament.
Former Andhra team captain Hanuma Vihari posted his statement on his Instagram account after the side’s exit in the quarter-finals stage of the Ranji Trophy 2024 schedule.
He details the reason why he left the Andhra captaincy following Andhra’s first game of the season. He said that he shouted at a player who was the son of a politician who made a complaint to his father which resulted in happenings. He also said he will be not playing for Andhra anymore.
He stated “We fought hard till the end but it wasn’t meant to be. Gutted to lose another quarter 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 at the 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 knockouts 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.
The sad part is 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 until 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 the association doesn’t want us to grow.
View this post on Instagram
To which the player whom Vihari shouted posted a story on Instagram saying, “Hello everyone I am that guy, You guys are searching in that comment box, whatever 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, Nuvu Inthaku minchi emmi pikkulevu Mr so called champion. Play this sympathy games however you want”.
Vihari has played 37 FC games for Andhra. After his step down from captaincy, Ricky Bhui led the side in the Ranji Trophy 2024 season.
Following the player’s reply to Vihari’s claim, the right-handed batter attached proof in his official Twitter handle.
The whole team knows! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/l5dFkmjGN9
— Hanuma vihari (@Hanumavihari) February 26, 2024
