In Sydney, he performed a valiant, game-saving knock with an ailing back exactly three years prior, scoring 23 off of 161 deliveries. This helped India win a historic and ground-breaking series in Australia. In the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals in Indore last year, despite having a fractured arm, he bravely batted left-handed for Andhra. The rival coach, Chandrakant Pandit, praised Hanuma Vihari’s tenacity in public.
He is renowned for having taken time off from his India duty to play for his team on the eve of a crucial Vijay Hazare Trophy match for Andhra a few years ago, guaranteeing his team’s qualification for the knockout stages. On the eve of the second round of the Ranji Trophy in 2023–24, Vihari was abruptly fired as the captain of Andhra Pradesh in Mumbai.
Although there are several accounts and a plethora of conspiracy theories, it is being described as a voluntary decision to step down. Under Vihari, Ricky Bhui, who was vice captain, has been promoted to the position of captain.
“He desired a respite to concentrate on his hitting; there was no obligation to substitute him,” stated chief selector RVCH Prasad, whose opinion was supported by team manager Jugal Kishore Ghiya.
That is not a contentious issue. On the fringes of the Mumbai-Andhra Ranji match, legendary former Andhra player Ghiya informed ‘Cricket Line News’ that it was Vihari’s personal decision.
However, many who have closely followed Andhra cricket have an alternative story about the mid-season captaincy change. It is rumored that during the first game in Visakhapatnam last week, Vihari let out his aggravation and rage on a reserve player, whose identity is purposefully kept a secret to safeguard his career.
