Hanuma Vihari on his batting order: Indian batsman talks about batting where his team requires him to bat.
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Having scored a half-century in the ongoing India’s lone practice match ahead of the Test series against Australia, India middle-order batsman Hanuma Vihari has further strengthened his chances of entering into the playing eleven for the first Test to be played from December 6 at Adelaide.
Vihari had impressed one and all by scoring a gritty maiden half-century on his Test debut against England at The Oval earlier this year. To his dislike, the 25-year old right-hand batsman failed to find a spot in the playing eleven for the series against Windies.
With him in the 18-member squad for Australia Tests, one expects him to be given a few chances. Vihari’s biggest competitor for the No. 6 position is vice-captain in the limited-overs format in Rohit Sharma.
In which seems like a tight competition, Vihari has expressed his desire to bat anywhere the team would want him to bat. Speaking during an exclusive interview with Times of India, Vihari laid emphasis on learning from senior players in England and spoke about batting anywhere in the order.
“Australians have a great bowling attack. My captain, Virat Kohli and other seniors helped me in England. I am taking everything I learnt to Australia,” Vihari said. “I will play in Australia the way I played in England. I am ready to bat at any position. If my captain asks me to open, I will. If he asks me to bat in the middle or lower order, I am ready for that as well,” Vihari further said.
Pleased on scoring a half-century on debut, Vihari was hopeful of converting another such start into a big one in Australia. “I scored a fifty in England and if given a chance I would like to convert it into a century in Australia.
“It is going to be a big series for me. I have worked hard for this. Want to thank my captain for showing faith in me. Getting a fifty overseas and that too on my maiden international tour was a big thing for me. I will try to continue this kind of performance in Australia,” Vihari was quoted.
On being picked ahead of Karun Nair during the last Test against England, it was assumed that his bowling abilities advocated for his selection. Speaking on the same, Vihari added that he can bowl if his team requires him to.
“Bowling is not my primary strength. But I can bowl when my team demands it. I have certain variations that I use when bowling. When my captain asked me to bowl in England, I did and thankfully took three wickets,” he concluded.
Read some of the latest Twitter reactions on Vihari below:
