Hanuma Vihari impressed one and all with his performances for the Indian team on the tours to England and Australia, where he got a fifty on debut at the Oval in 2018. He was then asked to open the innings in Australia facing the likes of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.
At the moment, Hanuma Vihari is preparing for his comeback into the Indian Premier League 2019, where he will turn out for Delhi Capitals. However, his goal is to make the no.4 spot in the Indian ODI team his own.
"I think I fit the bill (for the No. 4 spot). I've got the technique. You need someone at that No. 4 spot who has a good technique and can adapt to any situation. I think I've the skills and the game to succeed at that position," Vihari told TOI.
He further said, "The challenge for me is to perform in the IPL first. Rest depends on what the team management and the selectors think. Even with India 'A', in the white-ball format, I've done quite well. I feel I can take my game to the next level and this year's IPL will be a perfect platform."
The 25-year-old stressed he could play the role of finisher well, "I know I can play to any situation, even if it is the role of a finisher. I will go out there and express myself. If you have the will and hunger, then you can be successful in any role.”
"When I played the IPL before, I didn't have the strength or exposure to clear the boundary. Now, I feel I have the strength; whenever I want to I can clear the boundary just by playing conventional shots. Players like Kane Williamson and Virat can maintain a good strike-rate by playing conventional shots. I look up to them, the way they play. I just have to plan my innings accordingly," reflected Vihari.
Vihari felt that if one has a solid technique, the batsman could be successful in any format. He said, "I feel if you have a good technique then you can perform in all the three formats. It's people's assumption that I am just a Test player. I can only show them my performances. I am really looking forward to this year's IPL where I can showcase my skills. It's only the mindset that needs to be tuned."
Vihari also hoped Delhi Capitals will change their fortunes with their name as well, and said, “When you're down, the only thing that can happen is you go up. This year we have an exciting, young team. We would look to win back-to-back games so that we can reach the playoffs. All will depend on how we start the tournament."
(Times of India inputs)
