Meet the 17th Man in Indian cricket, a misfit in the dressing room and the son of a powerful father.

 Hanuma Vihari, an Indian cricket player who is not playing for the national team, made noteworthy claims on political meddling in cricket-related things in a recent Instagram post that was published after the Ranji season ended. Vihari announced his decision to step down as Andhra Pradesh's representative, citing an instance in which he says he was reprimanded for berating the 17th player during a Bengal match. Vihari claims that the politician parent of the 17th player allegedly pressured the association to take action against him, which caused him to resign as captain.

This incident highlights a little-known facet of cricket: the significance of non-playing extras, sometimes known as the 17th players, in domestic matches. These extra participants are usually chosen as a result of tainted administrative choices rather than a need. They frequently come from well-known families, and their teammates see them with suspicion since they feel they don't deserve to be on the team.

Tejashwi Yadav, the son of Laloo Yadav and a current candidate for chief minister of Bihar, is one well-known example of such a player. Tejashwi has experience in cricket, having represented his country in the 2008 Under-19 World Cup and going several years without participating in an IPL match with the Delhi Daredevils.

Similar customs are followed in Pakistan, where these people are called "Parchis," emphasising the use of recommendation slips to force unworthy players onto teams. This custom is not exclusive to Pakistan; it is also practiced in India.

It is clear that influential people such as businessmen, politicians, and other prominent people have an impact on cricket team selection. Administrators have, nevertheless, managed to make accommodations for these influencers without sacrificing the playing XI's integrity. Captains and coaches are frequently free to choose the team they want, ignoring non-players who may have been added on the basis of recommendations.

This also applies to the Indian Premier League (IPL), as franchise teams are subject to political pressure even with their corporate structure in place. Certain 17th players are happy to play a supporting role, but others aim to start, particularly in games against inferior opposition.

There are disadvantages to becoming the 17th player, along with any benefits they might receive. Even when they don the team uniform, they are still outsiders in the group and won't be able to completely enjoy the camaraderie and exhilaration of competitive cricket. In the end, their existence emphasises how difficult it is to uphold meritocracy in cricket team selection in the face of societal and political pressures.