India’s mid-range hitter Hanuma Vihari impressed the Indian locker room with his performance at the test series in Australia last year. Vihari has provided much-needed depth in India’s middle order since MS Dhoni’s departure and with Hardik Pandya unfit to play, Vihari’s role becomes even more crucial in the next series against Australia. However, despite consistent performances over the past two years in both international cricket and the domestic circuit, there is still lingering doubt as to whether the right-handed hitter will be in the India XI.
Former India player Pragyan Ojha believes that due to the fact that Vihari is a testing specialist, he has to perform in every match to stay in contention for the team.
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“Hanuma Vihari, this guy doesn’t appear in IPL, he doesn’t appear in the limited for the national team. Being a test specialist at the starting point of your career has both advantages and disadvantages, ”Pragyan Ojha told Sports Today.
“If you play test cricket, especially abroad, you earn respect. But on the other hand, his name does not circulate in that area, many people continue to discuss topics such as Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan or Suryakumar Yadav because they are performing on a platform where many people are watching. It’s the truth, ”he added.
“I feel like this series is very important to Vihari. India will not have Virat Kohli, those are big shoes to fill. Vihari got a hundred brilliants (pink ball warm-up). But it will not be easy, especially in the pink ball test. It has to consistently perform well to survive there.
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“He’s someone like VVS Laxman, I’d say. Every game Laxman played was a very important game to him because he was a test specialist. He has to constantly perform to be in the reckoning because he is not a regular in the limited overs format. It has become important for him to comply in every game he plays.
“In home conditions, it becomes difficult for him to play because India plays an extra spinner. And if Hardik Pandya starts bowling, jump right in.
“It is a very thankless job. A boy like Hanuma Vihari, if he has careers, he will be chosen, but if he does not get races or the team does not do well, the first to be in line will be Hanuma Vihari ”, Ojha Signed.
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