The veteran Indian batters, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane scored important half-centuries – both, in the context of the game and their respective form – as India put 266 on the board in the second innings of the Johannesburg Test. The Indian senior duo made a brilliant partnership of 111 runs for the third wicket, with both playing at a brisk run rate. While Pujara scored 53 runs off just 86 deliveries, whereas, Rahane scored 56 off 76 balls.
Hanuma Vihari, who batted at no.5 in this Test after replacing an injured Virat Kohli in the XI, also played a crucial knock as he remained unbeaten on 40 and put important stands with tailenders. With Kohli expected to make a comeback to the playing XI of the next Test, former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir insisted that it would be “unfair” on Vihari if he misses out on a spot in the XI in Cape Town.
Gautam Gambhir said that Vihari hasn’t been given many chances to prove himself in the longest format of the game and deserves a similar backing to Rahane, who has been going through a rough patch for almost a year.
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During a chat on Star Sports, Gautam Gambhir said, “It would be very unfortunate if he doesn’t play the next Test. If Rahane has scored a fifty, even Hanuma Vihari remained unbeaten on 40. If Vihari had batted in Rahane’s position (in the second innings), he might have scored a fifty as well. He has played with control in both innings.”
He further added, “You would want to give a long rope to such a batter. You don’t just play him in one game, then keep him out for the rest of the year. It is very unfair. We’ve seen Rahane’s performances for a long time now. So, I think that when Virat Kohli comes back in the next Test, he should bat at number 4 with Hanuma Vihari at 5. Going forward, I think it’s a right move in the right direction.”
Gautam Gambhir insisted that Hanuma Vihari was “solid” in both innings and deserves a place in the XI in the Cape Town Test.
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Eplxaining the same, Gautam Gambhir said, “If the team management has backed Rahane so much, it is time for them to put their faith in Hanuma Vihari as well, because he has looked solid in both, the first as well as the second innings.”
