Indian batsman Hanuma Vihari didn't do anything to remember or praise in the ongoing four-Test series in Australia but his courageous 161-ball 23 run knock on Monday (January 11) in the just-concluded third Pink Test is enough to laud his abilities with the bat.
Vihari could manage just 45 runs in three innings in the ongoing Test series before the third Test and peoples were talks of Vihari being dropped, though, the team management has shown faith in the batsman and he managed to prove himself in Sydney Cricket Ground.
However, Vihari didn’t score much in the Pink Test but his gritty innings was much more important since the "knock wasn’t about runs" as his 23* runs came in 161 balls and helped India to draw the very crucial third Test to keep alive their chances to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
He fought along with R Ashwin (39* in 128 balls) despite hurting his hamstring and limiting his mobility severely, to save the Sydney Test for India and former Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Deep Dasgupta said Hanuma should be remembered for “a long long time” by the team management and the fans and he will “ pray” for the same.
Dasgupta said on Sports Today on Monday: “I think one of the best that I have seen him (Hanuma Vihari) play, to be honest, and I really hope that people remember this knock from him because it is not about a lot of runs from him.”
The commentator further explained his point by saying: “My point is that he may not be available for the next Test (due to hamstring injury), and he generally doesn’t play home series against England.
He might not play the IPL, so the next cricket that he actually might play at this competitive level will be the next series against England away from home.
I hope people remember this knock from Hanuma Vihari, I honestly pray that people remember because we tend to forget very quickly, and this is a, for the connoisseur, this is an innings to remember for a very very long time.”
He signed off, “What an effort from Hanuma after the hamstring injury, just to be there and hang in there for as long as he did. I am sure his movements were restricted. That is just minded over matter, we keep talking about it and that was a fantastic example of that.”
(With India Today Inputs)
