Former India selector Devang Gandhi has opened up on Hanuma Vihari’s batting position for India, especially in home games. He also stated that instead of No. 5 – where the veteran Ajinkya Rahane batted for the Sri Lanka Tests – Vihari should come into bat at four down as well. Speaking to PTI, Gandhi said that he deserves a run of games for India. He then explained why he wants Hanuma Vihari to bat at No. 6.
Devang Gandhi said: “Firstly, Vihari has played only one Test at home and he, above everyone, else deserves a fair run. Secondly, if you see for India and India A, he has batted at No. 5 abroad. But in India, he can come in at No. 6 when the spinners will be in operation and the ‘SG Test’ ball becomes relatively old. Vihari has a fantastic record against spinners in the Ranji Trophy and that’s something the team management can exploit.”
With Vihari at No. 6, Gandhi indirectly stated to promote Rishabh Pant in the batting order. He also added that since the top-order is packed with right-handers, having a left-hander at No. 5 will help the team’s balance as well. With Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal are set to open, Shubman Gill likely to play at No. 3 and Virat Kohli at 4, Vihari can do well next.
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Gandhi said: “If you see our top-order, Mayank, Rohit, Shubman and Virat are all right-handers. It’s better if at No. 5 we have a left-hander to get the left-right combination going followed by Vihari at No. 6 and Ravindra Jadeja, again a left-hander at No. 7. It could be the way forward.”
However, senior batters Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane have been dropped from the squad for India’s two-match Test series against Sri Lanka at home. According to reports, it will be the youngster Shubman Gill and Hanuma Vihari who will replace them in the squad. Shreyas Iyer, who hit a century and a fifty on Test debut, is likely to have to wait again.
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Meanwhile, apart from the two veteran batters, India also dropped senior pacer Ishant Sharma and wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, opting for the younger KS Bharat as Rishabh Pant’s backup as well. The first of the two Tests will begin on March 4 in Mohali as well.
