Hanuma Vihari plans leaving Andhra ahead of domestic season
There have been talks which suggest he might head to Tripura.
2 Min Read
It is understood that veteran batter Hanuma Vihari has decided to switch his base ahead of the upcoming domestic season and has even asked for a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA). Vihari has registered 9585 runs in his First-Class career up until now, and has expressed his desire to switch his professional team.
Vihari confirmed that the Tripura Cricket Association (TCA) has been in talks with him in the recent past. Tripura will play in the Elite division across both red and white-ball formats. Former president of the TCA Tapan Lodh, who is currently a member of the association, clarified that Vihari was amongst the few individuals who were in their radar for being acquired.
"I have been thinking about a switch. Tripura has been asking me for some time," stated Vihari, as quoted by Cricbuzz.
"We have recommended to the association a few names to sign as professionals. I cannot disclose the names but I know we are signing Vihari," Lodh noted.
Vihari has a domestic career spanning 131 First-Class matches and 97 List-A fixtures, respectively. He has played 44 matches for Andhra (3013 runs at an average of 44.97 with four centuries and 20 fifties). The 31-year-old moved to Andhra in the 2016/17 season. He then returned to Hyderabad, only to return to Andhra for the previous couple of seasons.
The Kakinada-born, who has represented India in 16 Tests so far, was controversially removed from the captaincy of Andhra, leading to a few political developments. He has played several brilliant and match-defining knocks for Andhra. His most-renowned one was when he came out to bat with a fractured left wrist in the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy quarterfinal clash against Madhya Pradesh in Indore.
Speaking about Tripura, they have been slotted in the Elite Group C of the upcoming season of India's premier red-ball competition. They will be taking on the likes of Services, Haryana, Bengal, Assam, Railways, Uttarakhand and Gujarat.
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