After quite impressing in the surprising international cricket debut during the Test series in England tour, Indian cricketer Hanuma Vihari has been ignored in the playing XI during the recent two-match home Test series against Windies.
During the recently concluded home Test series against Windies, Vihari celebrated his 25th birthday with the team. However, he didn’t get an opportunity in the series despite scoring an impressive half-century at the challenging time during his debutant Test match, the fifth and final Test against the hosts England at The Oval. In his debutant Test match, Vihari scored 56 runs in his debutant innings and also took three wickets during England’s second innings.
Vihari’s cricket career grows up with the setbacks. At the age of 12, he lost his father and soon he was dropped out from the Under-13 state team. He was initially not picked up in the India U-19 squad for the 2012 ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup but later he replaced the injured Manan Vohra. After the disappointing performances in the IPL 2015 for Sunrisers Hyderabad, Vihari hasn’t been picked up by any IPL franchises.
However, Vihari believes these setbacks have made him a better person as well as stronger.
Recently in an interview with ESPNcricinfo, Vihari told, “These setbacks have made me a better person. Once you reflect on it, it will make you more humble and whatever you achieve, you have to keep going consistently and not relax or get complacent. But those are things, which make you stronger. If you are strong enough, it can make you a stronger person. Otherwise, you crumble. That is the choice I had. Every international player has a story. This is my story.”
Returning to the domestic cricket after didn’t get any chance during the home Test series against Windies, the Andhra skipper Vihari played an impressive 95-run knock off 99 balls against Hyderabad in the quarter-final of 2018/19 Vijay Hazare Trophy. However, his brilliant knock couldn’t save his team as they lost by 14 runs.
Vihari also wants to be more aggressive in the limited-overs cricket and to produce match-winning knocks.
Vihari said, “My mindset has also changed in limited-overs cricket. I want to be more aggressive. I have a formula in the four-day format, which I don’t want to change much. But in the one-dayers and T20s, I want to be more expressive; I know I have the shots. I want to be the X-factor in the team. I just don’t want to contribute to the team score but I also want to win matches. With my game, I want to create some fear in the opposition when I’m there in the crease.”
