Andhra Ranji Row: TDP Alleges Hanuma Vihari Forced To Resign By YSRCP Corporator, Here's What Has Happened So Far

Politics entered into cricket a day after Hanuma Vihari shared about the Ranji incident as Telugu Desam Party (TDP) alleged the role of the ruling Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party's (YSRCP) corporator in the issue.

In a statement issued on Tuesday (27 February), TDP said that Vihari was pressured to resign as the captain of the Andhra Ranji team due to an altercation with his teammate Kuntrapakam Prudhviraj, who is the son of a YSRCP corporator.

TDP's national spokesperson Kommareddy Pattabhi Ram said, "Prudhviraj complained to his father Kuntrapakam Narasimha, the YSRCP municipal corporator of the 25th ward from Tirupati who forced the cricketer to resign."

"The issue between the two players took a twist when Vihari was pressured by Prudhviraj’s father. Vihari was subjected to relentless verbal abuse and humiliation, finally resulting in his decision not to play for Andhra ever again," he added.

Pattabhi Ram also accused Chief Minister YS Jagan Reddy of keeping his "henchmen" in the Andhra Cricket Association like the association's president P Sharat Chandra Reddy who is also accused in the Delhi liquor scam.

In a clarification issued by the Andhra Ranji team, it was stated that Vihari did not approach the complainant aggressively and that the allegations of the use of foul language were also inappropriate as that was a normal thing for dressing rooms.

The letter signed by all team members expressed that the team wants Vihari to continue as the captain. Sharing this letter, Vihari posted on X, "The whole team knows!" with a heart emoji.

Earlier, Vihari had shared that he was asked to resign from captaincy "without any fault." He also stated that he would never play for Andhra, where he "lost his self-respect".