Sports Desk. Big update regarding Hanuma Vihari, the batsman who saved India from defeat against Australia (IND vs AUS) by playing an inning of 23 runs in 161 balls despite a hamstring injury in Sydney Cricket Ground exactly 3 years ago. Has come to the fore. Vihari was informally removed from the captaincy of Andhra Pradesh before the second round match against Mumbai (Mumbai vs Andhra) in the current season of Ranji Trophy (2023-24) starting from Friday in Mumbai (Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy BKC, Mumbai). Has been formally dismissed. Vihari’s own decision is being said to be the reason behind this decision, but different equations are being told in the media. In place of Vihari, vice-captain Ricky Bhui has been given the captaincy.
Let us tell you that, despite a broken hand in the Ranji Trophy quarter-finals in Indore last year, Vihari batted bravely with the left hand for Andhra (MP vs Andhra) against Madhya Pradesh. Rival coach Chandrakant Pandit publicly praised Vihari’s courageous innings and sportsmanship. Andhra Pradesh chief selector RVCH Prasad said that Vihari wanted to take a break to focus on his batting. There was no pressure to remove him. Prasad’s statement was also supported by team manager Jugal Kishore Ghiya. Former Andhra player Ghiya said on the sidelines of the Mumbai-Andhra Pradesh Ranji match that there is no dispute there. This was Vihari’s personal decision.
Those who have followed Andhra cricket closely have a different story about the change in captaincy in the middle of the season. It is said that Vihari had vented his anger against a reserve player during the first match in Visakhapatnam last week. That player’s father complained to the association against the captain. Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) President Sarat Chandra Reddy took the complaint seriously and forced the selectors to replace Vihari with another player as captain. Incidentally, that player has been included in Andhra’s 15-man squad against Mumbai but he did not get a chance in the playing eleven. Before the match against Mumbai, Vihari has scored 2262 runs at an average of 53 in 30 matches for Andhra. He is one of the 10 batsmen from Andhra to score more than 2000 runs.
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