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India's star batter Hanuma Vihari has relinquished the Andhra Pradesh's captaincy amid the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2023-2024 season. Ricky Bhui has been named the new skipper of the Andhra Pradesh's side as the batting sensation is leading the pack in team's Group B match against Mumbai on January 12.
“He has some personal reasons, so he has stepped down from captaincy. He wants to concentrate on his batting, so that’s the reason,” Bhui said after Andhra and Mumbai sweated it out at the nets on January 11.
“I have been with the same bunch for 10 years and have captained the team previously, even in other formats as well, so not a big deal. The important thing is we have got the momentum after beating Bengal – getting the first innings lead - and the key is to build it from here. Doesn’t matter who the captain is.”
As per media reports, Vihari's choice to step down from captaincy was a personal decision, driven by his intention to concentrate more on his batting.
Despite being consistently overlooked by the national selectors for India's Test squad over the past 18 months, the 30-year-old began the season with a notable innings of 51 against Bengal last week. It is understood that he communicated his decision to the Andhra senior men’s selection committee on the night of December 10.
The selection panel, in turn, conveyed this information to the team through the team management before their net session on December 11. Despite the unexpected change, the Andhra team seemed cheerful both during and after their training.
Interestingly, Vihari was close to departing from Andhra during the off-season. Despite this, the Andhra Cricket Association decided to retain him, anticipating that he would lead the side following its quarterfinal appearance in the previous season.
In the opening game against Bengal, Vihari scored 51 runs, and the match concluded in a draw. Notably, before the season commenced, he had contemplated transferring to Madhya Pradesh, expressing a keen interest in playing under domestic coach Chandrakant Pandit with the aim of rejuvenating his international career.
Vihari has played in 16 Tests for India, amassing 839 runs at an average of 33.56, which includes a century and five half-centuries. His highest score, 111, was achieved against the West Indies in Kingston in 2019.
Making his Test debut at The Oval in 2018, Vihari's most recent appearance was also in England, during the Birmingham Test in 2022.
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