Hanuma Vihari seeks NOC from Andhra

Hanuma Vihari, the former India, Andhra, and Hyderabad batter, has decided to switch states. Ahead of the upcoming domestic season, the 31-year-old has sought an NOC from the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA). The buzz is that he could move to Tripura.

"I have been thinking about a switch. Tripura has been asking me for some time," Vihari, who played 16 Tests for India between 2018 and 2022, told Cricbuzz on Monday. Vihari also confirmed that he has applied for the NOC from the ACA.

A Tripura Cricket Association (TCA) official has confirmed that the association has finalised Vihari as their professional for the season and in all likelihood, he will be the captain of the state side too. Tripura will be in the Elite division across formats - both in red ball and white ball.

"We have recommended to the association a few names to sign as professionals. I cannot disclose the names but I know we are signing Vihari," Tapan Lodh, a former president of the association and currently part of the association, told this website.

Vihari has had a domestic career of 84 matches starting from the 2011/12 season with 44 matches for Andhra (3013 runs at an average of 44.97 with four centuries and 20 half centuries). He moved to Andhra in the 2016/17 season before going back to Hyderabad only to return to Andhra for the last two seasons.

He also captained Andhra before being controversially removed from the post in 2024 following political interference. For Hyderabad, he featured in 40 matches, scoring 3,155 runs at an average of 57.38, with 10 centuries and 12 half-centuries.

For Andhra, he was regarded as a warrior - once even batting with a fractured left wrist in a quarterfinal against Madhya Pradesh, an effort that drew all-round praise from the opposition camp in Indore.