Stats: Hanuma Vihari's journey to the Indian Test squad

Not many players part of the U19 World Cup squad that won the title in 2012 have managed to advance to a higher level but Hanuma Vihari certainly did go against the trend with the bat to earn his maiden call-up to the national Test team. The 24-year-old began his career with Hyderabad before moving to his home team Andhra from the 2016-17 domestic season.

He holds a unique distinction of leading both Hyderabad and Andhra teams which wouldn’t have been possible without his consistent run in the domestic circuit. Vihari’s most recent knock of 148 runs against South Africa A was clinical in his inclusion into the Indian squad for the final two Tests in England. He thus became the first player from the Andhra Team to make it the Indian Test squad since 1999/2000 when the current chief selector MSK Prasad featured in the team.

All the numbers from Hanuma Vihari’s career that led to his inclusion in the Test team:

5 – Vihari’s five double centuries in first-class cricket have come since the start of 2013/14 season. In this span, only Virat Kohli (6) has more double tons than Vihari in FC cricket. Cheteshwar Pujara and Paras Dogra also scored five 200s apiece in this period.

59.79 – His batting average of 59.79 in first-class cricket is the 8th highest batting average for any player in this format who scored a minimum of 5000 runs. His average is also the highest among the active cricketers ahead of Steve Smith’s 57.27.

302* – He scored an unbeaten 302 in the 2017/18 season against Orrisa. The right-hander brought up his triple ton with a six to become the 2nd player after KS Bharat (308 in 2014/15) to score a triple century for Andhra.

752 – Vihari scored 752 runs across six matches in the 2017/18 Ranji season while leading Andhra. He was the 5th highest run-getter and scored those at an average of 94. In the 2013/14 edition of the tournament, he scored 841 runs while playing for Hyderabad which is his best performance to date.

His tally in that 2013/14 season is the 3rd highest in a Ranji season for Hyderabad behind VVS Laxman‘s record-breaking 1415 runs in the 1999/2000 season and MV Sridhar’s 868 runs in 1995/96 season.

4269 – Runs Vihari has scored in first-class matches in India since the start of 2013/14 season. Cheteshwar Pujara scored 4523 runs having played eight more matches. The Andhra skipper has scored his runs at an average of 72.36.

4430 – Hanuma Vihari’s 4430 runs in Ranji Trophy are the most for any player since his debut in the 2010/11 season. He has scored those runs in 54 matches at an average of 60.69 with 12 centuries.

He has scored 4198 runs since the start of 2012/13 Ranji season in 47 matches at an average of 65.59. He is the only player to aggregate 4000 runs in the last six Ranji Trophy seasons.

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