Hanuma Vihari

One of the most solid batsmen in the Indian domestic circuit, Hanuma Vihari was bound to break into the Indian Test squad after averaging close to 60 in the first-class circuit for a considerable amount of time. Rising through the ranks of age group cricket at Andhra Pradesh, Vihari was touted as a solid batsman from a very young age. He was a consistent run-scorer at the junior level and given the solid technique he was destined to be a red ball specialist. 

Owing to an impressive showing in the domestic circuit, Vihari was handed an IPL contract by the Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2012. He failed to make an impact with the bat as his inability to play the big shots in a T20 era was criticized. However, his technique was never questioned and was praised highly by his SRH teammate Dale Steyn. Vihari produced a match-winning performance in his debut IPL season albeit with the ball. He bagged the wicket of Chris Gayle for a golden duck after being asked to open the bowling. 

After making his first-class debut for Hyderabad against Jharkhand in 2010, Vihari went onto establish himself as a solid middle-order batsman and churned out runs for fun. He put a huge prize on his wicket in the domestic circuit and with an average of 60, he was knocking on the door of the national team. Vihari was handed his Test debut against England at the Oval and impresses with a maiden half-century in his debut. 

With Rohit Sharma also occupying the middle order, Vihari was asked to open in one of the Tests against Australia during their tour Down Under in 2019-20. He didn’t score much but played out a considerable amount of deliveries and blunted the new ball. He went onto cement his place in the Test side and booked a spot for the Test series in West Indies which was India’s first series of the ICC Test Championship. 

He had a great time with the bat in the Caribbean including his maiden Test century as India ousted Windies 2-0. He scored a fluent half-century during the tour of New Zealand earlier in the year 2020. To add to his solid batting, Vihari can also chip in with some crucial overs with his off-spin. He has already bagged some crucial wickets in his brief Test career so far.

With few milestones already in his short Test career, Vihari heroics in the 2021 Sydney Test against Australia is by far the most notable moment in his international career. Vihari battled time, opponents and his own injury to script one of the most remarkable escapes for India in their rich Test history. He scored 23 runs off 161 balls and formed a 62-run stand with Ravichandran Ashwin to ensure that the SCG Test ends in a draw. The Andhra cricketer withered several blows to the body, but did not succumb to it and ensured India didn't lose the game.

A rock-solid batsman who has shown heart and passion on the crease multiple times, Vihari would be hoping to establish his place in the Indian red-ball teams as they would need such resilience lower down the order, in future away tours!

(As of June 2021)