As the cricketers are helping people by arranging funds, oxygen cylinders or sharing leads, India’s Test specialist Hanuma Vihari is no different. He has also been working for the COVID-19 patients through a network of friends. Notably, India has been suffering a lot during the pandemic’s second wave where more than 4 lakh people are infecting on a daily basis and over 4000 people are dying too.
Vihari, meanwhile staying in the UK for his county stint, has used his Twitter handle to appeal for help. He has also made a team of 100 volunteers, including his friends and followers from across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka and they have been trying to help people as well with plasma, oxygen cylinders and arranged food and hospital beds for patients.
“I don’t want to glorify myself. I am doing it with the intention of helping people at the ground level, who actually need every help possible in these difficult times. It is just the start,” the 27-year-old said PTI in an exclusive interview.
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Notably, Hanuma Vihari left for England in early April to play for Warwickshire and is likely to join the Indian team directly in the UK when they will reach there on June 3. Like others, he is also shocked to see the current situation where the basic needs like hospital beds, oxygen supplies and essential medicines are not sufficient enough.
“With the second wave being so strong, getting a bed became a difficulty and that is something which is unthinkable. So, I decided to use my followers as my volunteers and help as many people as I can,” he said. “My goal is to actually mainly reach out to those people who are not able to afford or arrange for plasma, beds and essential medicine. But this is not enough. I would like to do more service in the future.”
However, Hanuma Vihari revealed that when he started receiving several calls and messages for help, he decided to create a network to help people and he got the support from common people, his own family and Andhra teammates like Prithviraj Yarra as well.
“I built my own team. It’s all about good intentions and people do get inspired and come out to help me. I have around 100 people on a WhatsApp group as volunteers and it’s their hard work that we have been able to help a few people. Yes, I am a cricketer, well known but I am able to help because of their untiring efforts to reach the distressed,” said the dependable batsman
Although he started on Twitter, his team is now over all the social media platforms to help the needy people whoever asking for help.
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“I started as one and now we have many friends in different platforms through my following on social media. I send them requests I get and they do the search. I chip in if any recommendations are required or to post on social media. Even my wife, sister and few of my Andhra teammates are part of my volunteer team. It’s so heartening to see their support,” Vihari said.
While talking about India’s upcoming Test series of England, Vihari said that he is ready for any kind of role even if he is asked to open during the five-Test series, he would happily do it.
“I will do anything the team asks of me. I batted top of the order most of my career so I’m familiar to the challenge,” added Vihari. “I am working on my off-breaks.”
