"I
just think about improving my game and enjoying it." Hyderabad is
currently second in Elite Group B, behind Mumbai, and has won three of their
five Ranji Trophy games straight up. "If I don't do that, there is no
purpose left," the player declares. With 365 runs in seven innings, Hanuma Vihari has made a significant contribution to that run, second only to teammate
Ricky Bhui's 550. His first-class average has remained above 50 (52.68) as a
result, but there seems to be little chance of him adding to his 16 Test
appearances.
After
Andhra defeated Bihar in Patna for their third straight victory, Vihari told
ESPNcricinfo, "I do feel sad and disappointed that I am not in the Test
team, but everyone goes through ups and downs, and my job now is to score runs
in the Ranji Trophy." "The season has gone well for me and the team
alike. Thus, the goal is to amass a large run total and attempt to rejoin the
Test team."
But
it's possible that the selectors are not considering Vihari. He claims he
hasn't had many talks with the management or selectors of the Indian team since
his last Test match, back at Edgbaston in July 2022, when he batted at No. 3
and scored 20 and 11 in a seven-wicket loss. aside from a single chat with
Rahul Dravid, the head coach.
"No one has spoken to me recently, but Rahul Dravid did speak to me after my last Test,
and he told me what I can improve on, but no, I haven't been in touch with
anyone since then," Vihari stated. But all I can think about is getting
better at my game and having fun. There will be no reason left if I don't
accomplish that. I just want to score runs and give the team my best effort
when I go into the middle. "I am at a stage [in my career] where I have no
expectations." Every time I bat, I give it my all, and whatever occurs
will happen."
"I'm
glad he went in a different direction and is succeeding. After an outstanding
Under-19 World Cup, he could not advance to the senior level in India, so
I'm sure he will have double the motivation when he plays against them."
Six
months before that January 2021 Edgbaston Test, Vihari had amassed possibly
the most renowned 23 not-outs in Indian Test history and contributed to one of
the most renowned draws in the history of the game. Before Vihari and R Ashwin
combined for 62 runs in 42.4 overs, India was 272 for 5 in 88.2 overs with
Australia leading 407 against them in Sydney. In less than four hours, Vihari scored his 23 runs off
of 161 balls, and Ashwin finished with 39 runs off of 128 balls in just over
two hours. Due to the draw, the teams faced off in the final Test in Brisbane
on equal footing before India won the series with a stunning victory. Due to
injuries sustained at the SCG, neither Vihari nor Ashwin participated in the
final Test, which made their battles against Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood,
Pat Cummins, and Nathan Lyon all the more impressive.
"The
Sydney Test is one of my most treasured memories. Everything was one-all. We
wouldn't have had a chance to win the series if we hadn't won that Test in
Sydney, Vihari said. Since Ashwin and I couldn't run very much due to our injuries, we made
the decision to go ball-by-ball and over-by-over and see where we ended up. We
played for one and a half hours, and the outcome was remarkable. The
Sydney Test will always hold a special place in my heart, even though we went
to Gabba and won the series."
Now
thirty years old, he is too far removed from international cricket to make a
quick return. However, one of his old friends who has never played for an
international team has a very different career trajectory than Vihari and now
has an opportunity to play for a national team.
The
captain of India in the 2012 Under-19 World Cup, Unmukt Chand, was never
selected for the senior squad. Chand's teammate Vihari did. However, Chand left
his native country and relocated to the United States, where he may play in the
USA and Caribbean during the 2024 T20 World Cup. He may also play against
India.
"We don't talk much, because after the Under-19 World Cup, we moved quickly to the senior level, and his career graph was different from mine, and he is now in the USA," Vihari stated. "I'm glad he went in a different direction and is succeeding. After an outstanding Under-19 World Cup, he could not advance to the senior level in India, so I'm sure he will have double the motivation when he plays against them. He will therefore undoubtedly be motivated. Yes, we don't communicate, but my best wishes are with him."
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