Hanuma Vihari takes U-turn, rejoins Andhra after chat with new ruling party

Out-of-favour India batter Hanuma Vihari vouched to never play for Andhra again in his lifetime. The decision was made after a fallout with the state association and KN Prudhvi Raj, a player he had a heated argument with, in the dressing room. Soon after the incident, Vihari was asked to step down from captaincy and the 30-year-old followed the instructions. However, after the end of the 2024 season, Hanuma issued multiple statements and decided to distance himself from Andhra cricket.

Things developed in the next few months as Vihari held discussions with the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) and there were talks of him joining the team. Everything seemed to be going according to the plan until the state elections in Andhra. Telegu Desam Party came to power in June 2024 and soon after that, Vihari held talks with their official, which played a massive role in him changing his decision.

Hanuma Vihari confirmed that he will represent Andhra in the coming season and for years to come as he once again feels the support of the association and the government. He recalled the days when he was humiliated but going forward, he wants to forget about the past and focus on bringing the glory days back to Andhra.

“I'm so happy to meet Minister Nara Lokesh gaaru [TDP general secretary] today, and he assured me that I will have full support coming back to Andhra Cricket Association. I am so happy meeting him, and I have got full assurance after meeting him. I understand his aspirations for the Andhra Cricket Association,” Vihari told reporters.

“It's good to be back in Andhra cricket. What I faced in the last couple of years was a lot of humiliation. I lost my self-respect. I wanted to leave Andhra Cricket Association and move to another state, but I've now got the assurance. So I am looking forward to coming back and serving Andhra for a long time to come,” he added.

Check out Vihari's latest remarks here:

మంత్రి నారా లోకేష్ గారితో భేటీ కావడం చాలా సంతోషంగా ఉంది. ఆంధ్రా క్రికెట్ అసోసియేషన్‌‌లో నా పునః ప్రవేశం గురించి చర్చించాను. ఏపీలో క్రికెట్, క్రీడల అభివృద్ధి కోసం నా సహకారం అందిస్తాను.

-హనుమ విహారి, టీం ఇండియా క్రికెటర్#LokeshStandsWithHanumaVihari#NaraLokesh #AndhraPradesh pic.twitter.com/X91GIxq6bM

— Telugu Desam Party (@JaiTDP) June 25, 2024

Also Read: Hanuma Vihari's wait for NOC from Andhra Cricket Association ends

MPCA not pleased with Vihari after his change of heart

Meanwhile, MPCA didn’t like Hanuma Vihari’s decision, especially as they were kept in the dark for a long time. The cricketer held talks with MPCA in 2023 as well but nothing materialized. This is now for the second time in two years that MPCA’s deal with Vihari couldn’t go through.