Indian cricketer Hanuma Vihari, a prominent middle-order batter who was once a regular member of the Test side, has revealed his disappointment at being excluded from the team. Vihari, known for his gritty displays, has been left out of the Indian squad for the upcoming West Indies Tour. Despite being a vital part of the team during away tours, the 29-year-old has been overlooked for selection. With 16 Tests under his belt, Vihari’s last appearance in Indian colors came in July 2022 during the one-off Test against England in Birmingham. Since then, he has been left wondering why he was excluded.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Vihari expressed his disappointment, saying, “Definitely, there was disappointment. I didn’t find a reason why I was dropped, and it was the only thing bothering me. Nobody contacted me and told me the reasons why I was dropped. It took some time, and I have gone through ups and downs, but I’m not worried about it now. I’ve put aside my side of things, and I don’t take too much stress about whether I’m on the Indian team. There are other matches to win, which is about winning the trophies.”
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Who is Hanuma Vihari?
Hanuma Vihari is an Indian international cricketer who is a middle-order batsman and a right-arm off-break bowler. He made his Test debut for India in 2018 and has since played 22 Tests, scoring 1377 runs at an average of 41.29. He is also a member of the Indian ODI and T20I teams but has not played as much in these formats. Hanuma Vihari is a technically correct batsman known for his ability to play spin well. He is also a good fielder and has taken some crucial catches in his career. He is a valuable asset to the Indian team and is expected to play a key role in the future. Hanuma Vihari is a talented cricketer who has the potential to be a great player for India.
Meanwhile, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has announced that he will have a new opening partner in the first Test of the two-match series against West Indies, set to begin in Dominica on Wednesday. The upcoming Test begins the ICC World Test Championship 2023–25 cycle. 21-year-old left-hander Yashasvi Jaiswal will join Rohit Sharma as they form a new opening combination for India.
Yashasvi Jaiswal had an impressive year of white-ball cricket, showcasing his talent by amassing 625 runs in the 2023 IPL with an average of 48 and an impressive strike rate of 163.61. Moreover, Jaiswal has exhibited his proficiency in red-ball cricket, with an average of over 80 in his first 26 First-Class innings. He notably scored 265 runs in the second innings of the Duleep Trophy Final last year.
With the absence of Cheteshwar Pujara, who was not selected for the West Indies tour, Rohit Sharma has decided that his current partner, Shubman Gill, will move down to the No. 3 position in the batting order. Rohit expressed that Gill expressed his desire to play at No. 3, as he has played most of his cricket at that position. This move will create an opening combination of left and right-handed batsmen, a strategy the Indian team has been looking to implement for many years.
Rohit Sharma shared his thoughts during a pre-match press conference, stating, “Gill will play at number 3 because Gill himself wants to play at number 3. He discussed with Rahul (Dravid) that I have played all my cricket at 3 and 4. I think I can do better for my team if I bat at number 3. And it is good for us too because it becomes an opening combination of left and right.”
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The India skipper expressed optimism about this new strategy, stating, “So I think we will try to do this, and hopefully, this will go on for a long time. Because we have been looking for a left-hander for many years. So now that we have got that left-hander, let’s hope he performs well for the team. And he can really make that spot his own.”
In conclusion, exclusion of Hanuma Vihari from the Indian Test side has disappointed him, as he remains unaware of the reasons behind his omission. Meanwhile, the Indian team is gearing up for the West Indies tour with a new opening combination featuring Yashasvi Jaiswal alongside skipper Rohit Sharma. With the reshuffling of the batting order, Shubman Gill will take up the crucial No. 3 position, aiming to contribute significantly to the team’s success. The upcoming series is set to showcase India’s fresh approach and strategies as they look to dominate the West Indies.
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