New Delhi [India], After publicly announcing earlier this year that he would "never represent Andhra Pradesh in domestic cricket again", India test batsman Hanuma Vihari is set to represent the association in the upcoming season national cricket.
According to ESPNcricinfo, Vihari announced his decision to rejoin after he was assured of the full support of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the state's new ruling party.
In early February, Vihari announced that he would never again represent Andhra Pradesh in domestic cricket, accusing the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) of mistreatment that left him "humiliated". Vihari made this revelation just after Andhra Pradesh's Ranji Trophy journey came to an end during the quarterfinals with a four-run loss to Madhya Pradesh.
In an Instagram post, Vihari alleged that he was forced to resign as captain after Andhra's first round match against Bengal in January. During that time, he had cited personal reasons for his decision, but now revealed that the association had acted against him due to political interference after he yelled at a player.
However, Vihari met TDP officials before announcing his decision, according to ESPNcricinfo.
"I am very happy to meet Minister Nara Lokesh Gaaru [TDP general secretary] today and he assured me that I will have full support when I return to the Andhra Cricket Association. I am very happy to meet him and I have full confidence after meeting him , I understand your aspirations for the Andhra Cricket Association," Vihari told reporters as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
"It's good to be back in Andhra cricket. What I faced in the last few years was a lot of humiliation. I lost self-respect. I wanted to leave the Andhra Cricket Association and move to another state, but I have now got the confidence , so I hope to come back and serve Andhra for a long time," he added.
The 30-year-old Vihari played the most recent of his 16 Tests in July 2022. Vihari has played 16 games so far and has amassed 839 runs at an average of 33.56 with a century against the West Indies.
In first-class cricket, in 124 games, he scored 9,325 runs, including 24 centuries and 49 half-centuries at an average of 51.80.
According to ESPNcricinfo, Vihari announced his decision to rejoin after he was assured of the full support of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the state's new ruling party.
In early February, Vihari announced that he would never again represent Andhra Pradesh in domestic cricket, accusing the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) of mistreatment that left him "humiliated". Vihari made this revelation just after Andhra Pradesh's Ranji Trophy journey came to an end during the quarterfinals with a four-run loss to Madhya Pradesh.
In an Instagram post, Vihari alleged that he was forced to resign as captain after Andhra's first round match against Bengal in January. During that time, he had cited personal reasons for his decision, but now revealed that the association had acted against him due to political interference after he yelled at a player.
However, Vihari met TDP officials before announcing his decision, according to ESPNcricinfo.
"I am very happy to meet Minister Nara Lokesh Gaaru [TDP general secretary] today and he assured me that I will have full support when I return to the Andhra Cricket Association. I am very happy to meet him and I have full confidence after meeting him , I understand your aspirations for the Andhra Cricket Association," Vihari told reporters as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
"It's good to be back in Andhra cricket. What I faced in the last few years was a lot of humiliation. I lost self-respect. I wanted to leave the Andhra Cricket Association and move to another state, but I have now got the confidence , so I hope to come back and serve Andhra for a long time," he added.
The 30-year-old Vihari played the most recent of his 16 Tests in July 2022. Vihari has played 16 games so far and has amassed 839 runs at an average of 33.56 with a century against the West Indies.
In first-class cricket, in 124 games, he scored 9,325 runs, including 24 centuries and 49 half-centuries at an average of 51.80.
