Hanuma Vihari, the skipper of the Andhra Ranji team, has decided to stop playing for the team due to politics entering cricket because of inflated egos. His reaction during the Andhra vs Bengal match, particularly towards the 17th player KN Prudhviraj (Prithviraj), led to his removal as captain. Prudhviraj’s father is a politician, which triggered Vihari’s decision.
Vihari took to Instagram to announce his decision, stating that he will no longer represent Andhra. Prudhviraj also posted a story in response to Vihari’s post. Vihari expressed his disappointment over being asked to resign from captaincy after leading the team to success in previous seasons.
Despite feeling embarrassed and humiliated, Vihari continued playing out of respect for the game and his team. However, he ultimately decided to step away from Andhra due to feeling disrespected by the association’s actions. His post on Instagram highlighted the unfair treatment he believed he received.
In response to Vihari’s post, Prudhvi Raj also shared his perspective on Instagram, denying any personal attacks and emphasizing the importance of self-respect. He refuted the claims made against him and defended his actions during the match against Bengal.
The team members of Andhra Ranji team wrote to the ACA president in support of Vihari, stating that the use of foul language and aggressive approaches were common in their team atmosphere. They requested for Vihari to continue as their captain, highlighting his leadership qualities and the success they had achieved under his guidance. The players expressed unity and a desire for Vihari to lead their side in the ongoing season.