Vijay Shankar
Vijay Shankar to Join Tripura, Leaves Tamil Nadu (credits

Overview:

With both Shankar and Vihari expected to play pivotal roles, Tripura’s squad will benefit from their experience.

Vijay Shankar is set to begin a new phase in his domestic career, with plans to represent Tripura in the 2025–26 season. The 34-year-old has already secured a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA), marking the first formal step towards his switch.

“I’ve received the NOC from Tamil Nadu, but I’m still waiting for Tripura’s official confirmation. Once I get their approval, I’ll be able to finalise everything,” Shankar told Cricbuzz.

A senior official from the Tripura Cricket Association later confirmed that Shankar would be joining the squad, alongside Hanuma Vihari, in the upcoming season. Tripura will be competing in the Elite category of all three domestic tournaments, the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Vihari is expected to lead the side.

Shankar, who has featured in white-ball formats for India, including a key appearance in the 2019 World Cup match against Pakistan, has been a consistent performer for Tamil Nadu since making his first-class debut in 2012. He has played 58 Ranji Trophy matches, scoring 3,142 runs at an average of 44.25, including 11 centuries and 16 fifties. In the 50-over format, he has 1,702 runs from 62 games, while his T20 career includes 1,004 runs in 47 matches.

Last season, Shankar impressed in the red-ball format, notching up 476 runs from six matches at an average above 52, which included two hundreds. In List A cricket, he added 188 runs to his tally. However, his performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy were not impressive, with only 83 runs from four appearances.

Meanwhile, Hanuma Vihari has already confirmed his move to Tripura following his departure from Andhra. The 31-year-old took to social media to announce his decision, stating that he will be one of Tripura’s three registered professionals for the new season.

“After thoughtful consideration, I have made the decision to move to the Tripura Cricket Association, where I’ll be representing the state in all three formats of the game,” Vihari shared on X, stating that the move provides him with a platform more suited to his goals.

Vihari, who made his Test debut in 2018 at The Oval, is remembered for his heroic innings at Sydney in 2021, where he, alongside R Ashwin, helped India salvage a famous draw. In 16 Test matches, he has scored 839 runs at an average of 33.56. His overall first-class record is impressive, amassing more than 9,500 runs at an average of nearly 50, including 24 centuries.

With both Shankar and Vihari expected to play pivotal roles, Tripura’s squad will benefit from their experience.

V M Suriya Narayanan is a passionate cricket writer who has been following the game since 2007. With a background in Civil Engineering (B.E.), he blends analytical thinking with a deep understanding of...