Sanjay Bangar has backed Hanuma Vihari ahead of Shreyas Iyer for the middle-order spot in the Indian team for the upcoming Test series against South Africa. However, Vihari hasn’t been selected for the home Test series against New Zealand and he had played for India-A against South Africa A as well.

On the other hand, Shreyas Iyer, who made his debut in the middle order against New Zealand, smashed a century and a half-century on debut to leave his mark. During a discussion on the Star Sports show Game Plan, Sanjay Bangar opened up on this.

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He said: “If the choice has to be between Shreyas Iyer and Hanuma Vihari, I would tilt towards Hanuma Vihari because of the kind of service he has done. He deserves that chance to bat ahead of Shreyas Iyer in an overseas Test match. I think Shreyas at the moment is high on confidence. If the thinking of the team management is that young careers have to begin in Indian conditions, so there is a confidence for Shreyas Iyer.”

He continued: “But look at Hanuma Vihari. He is somebody who has played the hard yards, who has got a hundred in West Indies, he saved a Test match for you in Sydney. Whenever he was asked to open the innings, he did that. He played on a single leg to save a Test match and he got a hundred.”

Meanwhile, Sanjay Bangar also believes that Ajinkya Rahane might struggle to make it to India’s playing XI considering his poor form in recent times. But his excellent record in South Africa, where he has an average of more than 50, could work for him as well.

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“I will find it very difficult to accommodate Ajinkya Rahane. Because you do require experience but you do not require too much experience, you also require form, you require youth and you require exuberance,” Sanjay Bangar concluded.