Hanuma Vihari, the middle-order batsman, is still hopeful of making a comeback to the Indian cricket team despite being left out after the one-off Test in England last year. Many believe that Vihari has been given a raw deal as he had a decent run of scores leading up to his exclusion.
Vihari gained praise for his exceptional performance in the third Test against Australia in Sydney in early 2021. However, his heroic efforts weren’t enough to secure his place in the team. It seems that the selectors have moved on, even though there have been calls for a batting overhaul following India’s defeat to Australia in the ICC World Test Championship final.
But Vihari remains hopeful and draws inspiration from Ajinkya Rahane’s recent comeback. Rahane made a strong return to the team in the WTC final after an 18-month gap and has since been elevated to vice-captain. Vihari believes that if a player has quality, there is always time to make a comeback. At only 29 years old, he feels he still has a lot of time to prove himself.
Vihari acknowledges that Rahane’s return was aided by his impressive performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, Vihari doesn’t play in the IPL, which means he misses out on the visibility associated with the high-profile tournament.
Vihari, who is currently leading the South Zone team in the Duleep Trophy, last had a consistent run in the IPL back in 2013 when he played 17 matches for the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Since then, he has only had a handful of opportunities in 2015 and 2019. Despite this, Vihari firmly believes that being branded a Test player is unfair. He asserts that a quality player can excel in all three formats of the game and hopes to make a comeback in the IPL and white-ball cricket.
Speculations suggest that Vihari might move from Andhra Pradesh to Madhya Pradesh for the upcoming domestic season, although he has not confirmed anything yet. Leading South Zone in the Duleep Trophy is a privilege for Vihari, and he is aiming to go one step further and win the title this year.
As Vihari remains optimistic about his comeback to the Indian team, he will continue to work hard and showcase his skills in various formats of the game. With Rahane’s successful return as an example, Vihari believes that if given the opportunity, he can prove his worth and make a strong comeback for India.
