Hanuma Vihari back in Andhra fold after meeting Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan and Minister Nara Lokesh

Team India batter Hanuma Vihari has surprisingly taken the U-turn to remain in Andhra Pradesh and continue playing domestic cricket for his home state. Earlier this month, the 30-year-old got a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) but did not submit it to the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MCA) to play for them.

Recent political changes in Andhra Pradesh, particularly with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) taking charge of the state, played a key role in Vihari's decision to stay. N Chandrababu Naidu has recently taken charge as the Chief Minister of the state.

Following his controversial removal from the captaincy and his announcement that he would not represent Andhra Pradesh again, Andhra Pradesh’s state minister, Nara Lokesh, extended an invitation for Vihari to return to the state team.

Hanuma Vihari’s dramatic U-Turn, as he returns to Andhra Pradesh 

Well, Vihari accepted the invitation warmly and expressed his pleasure at rejoining Andhra Cricket. Notably, the Indian batter had previously raised concerns of mistreatment within the ACA, citing an incident where he allegedly pressurized to resign from captaincy after an argument with his teammate, whose father is a well-known politician.

The controversy sparked political reactions, with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu criticizing the episode while describing the drama as the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party's (YSRCP) spiteful actions.

Meanwhile, Vihari recently met Andhra Pradesh’s Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan and Nara Lokesh, son of the CM N Chandrababu Naidu and State Minister, and revealed that they assured him of full support for coming back to the state side.

According to ESPNCricinfo, Hanuma Vihari said in a statement: “So happy to meet Minister Nara Lokesh Garu 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 and understand his aspirations for Andhra Cricket Association and for Andhra as well. I look forward to success of Andhra cricket and I want to be part of it. It's good to be back in Andhra cricket.”

Delighted to meet you sir and talk about Andhra cricket and I’m sure under your guidance Andhra cricket will excel.
Happy to be back at Andhra.#deputycm#og pic.twitter.com/mpgtaLZXbR

— Hanuma vihari (@Hanumavihari) June 25, 2024

He added, “What I faced 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 after meeting Nara Lokesh Garu I have got the assurance that I have to represent my Telugu state and I am really happy doing so. So, I am looking forward to coming back to ACA and serving Andhra for a long time to come.”

Hanuma Vihari will have our full support: Nara Lokesh

Meanwhile, Nara Lokesh stated: “Delighted to meet Indian cricketer Hanuma Vihari today. How he was subjected to political bullying, humiliated, and driven out of Andhra Cricket by the earlier government was shameful. I have invited him back to Andhra Pradesh and asked him to strive to make Telugu proud once again. He will have our full support.”

Thank you so much for your support sir.
I’ll strive to take Andhra cricket forward.
I’m sure the future of Andhra cricket is in safe hands. https://t.co/9iQS7CdkhI

— Hanuma vihari (@Hanumavihari) June 25, 2024

On the other hand, the Andhra Pradesh government issued an official statement, emphasizing their commitment to upholding sportsmanship and fair play. The government also stressed that it would not tolerate any political interference in sports.

The statement further mentioned that Vihari was abruptly stripped of his captaincy and subsequently pressured to resign from the state team, allegedly due to political influence from the previous government.