Hanuma Vihari has come a long way and he will look forward to make the final cut

While the buzz is more around Rishabh Pant and Prithvi Shaw as the next-generation of India players to take the baton ahead, the likes of Hanuma Vihari should not be overlooked. The 24-year-old batsman from Andhra Pradesh who idolises VVS Laxman got a well-deserved place in India’s national squad for the remaining two Tests against England along with Shaw.

With an average of almost 60 in first-class cricket, Vihari always had the talent to make at the highest level. But what made the boy a man is his exposure in international cricket as a junior player. For example, India ‘A’ tour of South Africa in 2017 for two unofficial Tests and a one-day triangular tournament. Vihari was in the squad for only the longer games and that too, he played only in the second game held in Potchefstroom.

In that single game too, Vihari scored just seven in the first innings and the winning four in the second innings. Yet, the very short stint for India ‘A’ in that series did wonders to the youngster’s confidence. Vihari also got to learn a lot from the coach of India ‘A’, Rahul Dravid.

Touring South Africa helped Vihari

“Going to South Africa and playing in those conditions, especially [since] it was my first tour, I learned a lot from that tour,” Vihari was quoted as saying by BCCI.tv.

“I had only one innings – I didn’t perform, but I knew I had to perform more in the domestic season to get back into the side, and grow in the India A level, because if you have to play for India, you have to score in the A team, there’s no other choice,” said the batsman who hit 148 for India ‘A’ against South Africa ‘A’ in an unofficial Test in Alur recently.

“It’s more the situation that matters to me rather than the strike rates I’m batting at. Sometimes on a good day you’ll bat at 60-70 in a four-day game, but sometimes you have to grind for the team, you have to bat at 45-50 as well.”
Vihari had a decent run this season with some heavy scores backing his claim for a spot in India squad.

He has hit a ton in his only game in Duleep Trophy and another hundred in Irani Trophy. In between, he has plundered 752 runs in Ranji Trophy at an average of 94. Also in England where he toured in June-July, his bat spoke for him. He scored 69 and 147 in a triangular series while a 68 in an unofficial Test match against the West Indies. Then came his 200 runs in two matches against South Africa ‘A’ at home.

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