Hanuma Vihari made a name for himself with his solid batting performance in the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The right-handed batter played a pivotal role in the Indian cricket team’s journey to the ICC World Test Championship Final as he played a match-saving innings in the SCG Test against Australia despite being injured.
His partnership with Ravichandran Ashwin helped the Indian cricket team draw the match against the Australian cricket team and earn some important points in the World Test Championship. Surprisingly, Vihari has not got a single opportunity to play for the Indian cricket team after that historic Test.
Hanuma Vihari has played domestic cricket and is reportedly fit
Recently, the BCCI announced the Indian Test squad for the upcoming home series against the New Zealand cricket team. The likes of Shreyas Iyer, Prasidh Krishna and Jayant Yadav are present in the Indian Test squad for the series against the Blackcaps, but Hanuma Vihari has not received a place.
According to reports, Hanuma Vihari is fit but not selected for the New Zealand series. Instead, the selectors are planning to add him to the India ‘A’ squad for their upcoming series against the South African ‘A’ side.
Here’s how Twitter reacted
Hanuma Vihari has played 12 Test matches for the Indian cricket team so far, scoring 624 runs at an average of 32.84. Most recently, Vihari was in action during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021/22, playing for Hyderabad. Also, he played for Warwickshire in county cricket before the England tour.
Cricket fans on Twitter were disappointed after this decision. Hanuma Vihari’s presence could have helped the Indian cricket team a lot especially considering the fact that he has played 94 first-class matches and a majority of them were in India. He knows the home conditions well, making him a reliable option. Here are the top Twitter reactions to Vihari’s exclusion.
I'm told Hanuma Vihari is fit and has been dropped. He will join the India A team which will play three four-day matches in South Africa. Very, very harsh call on him.
— Venkata Krishna B (@venkatatweets) November 12, 2021
i think they are sending him to sa so that he can get experience to play there because in india other batsmen will handle but in foreign conditions we need him
Advertisement— KeshavG69 (@G69Keshav) November 12, 2021
Not fair at all. Playing test cricket > Preparing for test cricket.
— Krishna Kumar (@KrishnaKRM) November 12, 2021
•Made Some crucial runs in New Zealand when all Batters struggling
•Made Maiden century in WI when team needed
• Draw a historical Sydeny test with Ash
Hanuma Vihari deserved chance if he is fit in test squad why dropped?
Also he only play in overseas (difficult) conditions! pic.twitter.com/SyOFGpatUU— ABHISHEK BAMNAVAT 🇮🇳 (@Coverdrive01) November 12, 2021
If Hanuma Vihari is indeed not injured then perhaps the selectors’ memories of his selfless heroics in the last Test he played for the country are as blurred as these rather poorly taken live pictures at the SCG in January #IndvNZ pic.twitter.com/YxRio3MB4t
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) November 12, 2021
In 12 Tests, Hanuma Vihari averages 32.84 with one fifty and four fifties, all of which have come overseas.
Vihari has played just one Test at home.
Do you think he should have been dropped for the series against New Zealand?#INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/L8xdbezdU5
Advertisement— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) November 12, 2021
Just checked. Hanuma Vihari has no injury concerns, was fit for selection. My guess is, selectors will now try to draft him in 'A' squad & probably say he must get time in SA. Last-min damage control. Won't buy the theory. Hanuma should've been playing these Tests vs NZ. Period!
Advertisement— KSR (@KShriniwasRao) November 12, 2021
The streets won't forget this Hanuma Vihari knock 💪#INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/sKXXu1U6wJ
Advertisement— CricXtasy (@CricXtasy) November 12, 2021
Among players to make their debut in the 21st century, only two world-wide have a better first-class batting average than Hanuma Vihari (min 50 games)
AdvertisementSteve Smith (57.1)
Fawad Alam (56.7)
Hanuma Vihari (55.00)We don't want another Fawad story. Give the guy a fair run #INDvNZ
— Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN) November 12, 2021
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