Andhra Pradesh’s batsman Hanuma Vihari appears poised to ply his trade for Madhya Pradesh in the upcoming Indian domestic season. The seasoned 29-year-old batsman, who hails from Andhra, was recently entrusted with the responsibility of captaining the South Zone team in the forthcoming Duleep Trophy, set to commence on June 28 in Bengaluru.
According to reports, Vihari has reached a decision to depart from Andhra and join forces with Madhya Pradesh, the reigning Indian domestic champions for the upcoming season.
Interestingly, left-arm paceman Khejroliya had previously represented Delhi before this development, and will also make the switch to Madhya Pradesh. Shedding light on these two transfers, the President of the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association, Abhilash Khandekar, elucidated the specifics of the agreement to the media.
“Vihari and Kulwant Khejroliya will play for Madhya Pradesh in the upcoming season. This was decided at a selection committee meeting of the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association on Monday. Yes, we had a meeting of our selection committee today, but I cannot disclose the details. I’ll get back to you tomorrow,”
he said.
Vihari has already established his presence in the international arena, having represented India in 16 Test matches. With an aggregate of 839 runs to his credit, garnered at an average of 33.56, which includes one century and five half-centuries, he has showcased his mettle on numerous occasions.
However, in his most recent appearance for India during the rescheduled Test in Birmingham, he encountered a challenging outing, being dismissed for scores of 20 and 11. Regrettably, India suffered a defeat in that Test, as England chased down a target of 378 runs with seven wickets to spare.
It remains to be seen how Hanuma Vihari’s move from Andhra Pradesh to Madhya Pradesh will impact his career and performances in the forthcoming domestic season. The change of scenery and the opportunity to represent a different state team could potentially invigorate the talented batsman and provide him with fresh challenges and a potential opening into the Indian Test match setup.
