Hanuma Vihari was over the moon after being named in the Indian Test squad

The Indian selectors announced the squad for the final two Tests on the tour of England last night. While the visiting team won the third Test at Trent Bridge they were 2-0 down in the series prior to that. The top order batting had failed in the first couple of games and thus called for change. At the same time, two youngsters were making a mark for themselves in first-class cricket. Thus the selection committee decided to give Hanuma Vihari and Prithvi Shaw their maiden Test call-up.

The duo has been added to the team at the cost of opener Murali Vijay who failed to impress at Edgbaston and bagged a pair at Lord’s. Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav also featured in the XI for the 2nd Test but could make little impact has also been excluded. Vihari who has been toiling really hard in domestic cricket for the last few years and has a first-class average of almost 60 after 63 matches was ‘over the moon’ after being named in the team.

He will leave for England soon and join the Indian team ahead of the fourth Test at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. It is the experience of sharing the dressing room with the likes of Virat Kohli that the 24-year-old is excited about.

“I was over the moon, to be honest,” Vihari in an interview with CricketNext. “It is a great moment for me and my career. I got a call from the India A manager that I have to leave tomorrow. It is a surreal moment for me and my family as well. One that I will cherish forever,” he added.

Best FC average among active players

Among active cricketers who have played more than 50 FC games, the Andhra lad has the highest average of 59.79 and the list features the likes of Steve Smith, Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara behind him.

Vihari always had the hunger to score big but it is with experience and maturity that he’s earned the confidence that helps him do that on a consistent basis.

“I have always had the hunger of scoring big runs but once you have that maturity and experience and exposure then you tend to have more confidence within yourself and that is what has helped me,” he added.

“So once I get to a hundred I will have the confidence to score a double hundred or even a triple hundred, last year which I got. I have always had the hunger but just the exposure being with the India A squad, once you get that exposure, then you have the self-confidence that you can really succeed,” said the Andhra cricketer.

There is an eight-day break before the fourth Test of the series gets underway on August 30 in Southampton.

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