Cricket

The upcoming India vs Australia Border-Gavaskar Trophy has sparked much anticipation, with the squad announcement revealing both expected and surprising inclusions. While the Rohit Sharma-led side boasts debutants Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy, the absence of veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara has raised eyebrows.Pujara, known for his resilience and ability to anchor the Indian batting line-up, has been a key figure in India's recent Test series victories against Australia. However, he was overlooked for the upcoming tour, prompting speculation about his future in the national team.In a recent social media post, Pujara shared a video of his training session, accompanied by the caption "Sore today, strong tomorrow." The post has garnered significant attention, with fans expressing their support and urging the selectors to reconsider their decision.Former India batsman Hanuma Vihari, who played a crucial role in India's back-to-back series wins in Australia, believes Pujara's absence will be a significant loss. "Pujara will be a big miss. He was the backbone of the batting line-up in the last two series for Team India," Vihari said.Vihari highlighted Pujara's ability to absorb pressure, bat for extended periods, and provide stability to the batting order. He questioned who would fill that role in the current Indian team, which features a more attacking batting line-up.Despite the absence of Pujara, India's squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy includes a mix of experienced and promising players. Rohit Sharma will lead the side, with Jasprit Bumrah serving as vice-captain. Other notable inclusions include Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Ravichandran Ashwin.The series is expected to be fiercely contested, with both India and Australia aiming to assert their dominance in Test cricket. India will be looking to extend their winning streak against Australia, while the visitors will be determined to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Hanuma Vihari, the out-of-favor India Test batter, is set to make a sensational return to the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) after publicly declaring earlier this year that he would "never play for Andhra again." This U-turn comes after Vihari received assurances of full support from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the state's new ruling party.Vihari's decision to rejoin ACA follows a lengthy public spat with the association after the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy campaign. He had alleged "political interference" and "humiliation" as reasons for stepping down as captain at the start of the season. However, after meetings with TDP officials, Vihari has confirmed his return."I'm so happy to meet minister Nara Lokesh gaaru today, and he assured me that I will have full support coming back to Andhra Cricket Association," Vihari told reporters. "I am so happy meeting him, and I have got full assurance after meeting him. I understand his aspirations for the Andhra Cricket Association."Vihari's return to Andhra cricket has left the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) fuming. Vihari was in talks to play for Madhya Pradesh last year, but the move fell through. ESPNcricinfo understands that Vihari's contract as a professional with MPCA was a formality after he had held talks with Chandrakant Pandit, MPCA's director of cricket.Vihari, 30, has played 16 Tests for India, scoring 839 runs at an average of 33.56. He has also represented Hyderabad and Andhra in domestic cricket. His return to Andhra is expected to boost the team's chances in the upcoming domestic season.

Hanuma Vihari Secures NOC from Andhra Cricket Association After Bitter DisputeIndian Test batter Hanuma Vihari has finally obtained his no objection certificate (NOC) from the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) after a protracted dispute with the state body. The NOC will allow Vihari to represent another state in domestic cricket from the 2024-25 season onwards.The conflict between Vihari and the ACA began in March when the association served him a show-cause notice after he publicly accused the governing body of unceremoniously removing him from captaincy. Vihari vowed not to play for the state again, citing a lack of respect and transparency.In a post on social media, Vihari revealed that he had been requesting the NOC for two months but had been met with resistance. However, following the recent victory of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in the state election, the ACA has issued the NOC immediately.In the NOC, ACA secretary Gopinath Reddy stated that the association has no objection to Vihari representing another BCCI-affiliated association as a player from the 2024-25 season onwards.Vihari, who has played 16 Tests for India, last represented the national team in 2022. He is expected to attract interest from several state associations, including Hyderabad, where he has previously played.The resolution of the dispute between Vihari and the ACA is a positive development for the player, who can now focus on his cricketing career without the distraction of off-field issues. It also highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in state cricket associations.

The Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) has issued a show-cause notice to former India batter Hanuma Vihari, a month after he alleged political interference in the association's decision to remove him as Andhra captain. Vihari has yet to respond to the notice, which was served after the ACA apex council meeting."We have served him a show-cause notice and are awaiting his reply," an ACA official told PTI. The official emphasized that the association does not wish to prolong the issue and is seeking Vihari's explanation for his public statements."This is just to find out what made him react the way he did last month. He has not reached out to us, so this is a chance for him to come out with his grievances," the official added. "After all, we value Vihari and his contributions to the growth of state cricket."Vihari's allegations stem from Andhra's failure to reach the Ranji Trophy semi-finals for the first time, after losing to Madhya Pradesh. In an Instagram post, he declared that he would "never play for Andhra" again, citing political interference in his removal as captain.Vihari's post was followed by a letter of support from his fellow Andhra players. However, KN Prudhuvi Raj, the 17th player during the match against Bengal, denied Vihari's accusations and accused him of making false statements.The ACA's show-cause notice is an attempt to address Vihari's concerns and resolve the issue amicably. The association values Vihari's contributions to Andhra cricket and hopes to find a solution that satisfies both parties.