The two-match Test series between India and West Indies is all set to get underway July 12 in Dominica. It will be a special occasion for Ajinkya Rahane, who has been named India’s vice-captain again.

Rahane was dropped from the Indian Test squad last year but he went back to domestic cricket and scored plenty of runs to regain his place in the red-ball side.

Rahane was recalled to the Test team for the WTC final against Australia and he registered scores of 89 and 46 in the marquee clash at The Oval last month. Subsequently, he was made vice-captain for the Caribbean Test tour.

India batter Hanuma Vihari is drawing inspiration from Rahane’s comeback and looking to replicate a similar story.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Vihari said he wasn’t sure why he was axed from the Test team but he is looking to emulate Rahane.

“I thought whenever I got a chance, I did my best. Maybe my best was not good enough for the Indian team. But again, I will try to keep getting better. That’s all you can do as a sportsman," Vihari stated.

He added, “Hope is always there until you retire that you can come back. I’m still 29 and have a lot of time to go. I’ve seen Ajinkya Rahane make a comeback at 35. I still feel I can contribute to the Indian side in the Test format, especially if I can get some runs in the domestic season."

Vihari also said that he has been branded as a ‘Test player’ and looking to prove his mettle in white-ball formats as well.

“Everyone says ‘he’s a Test player’, they brand me as a Test player. I don’t think it’s fair. I have grown as a white-ball player as well, but many don’t believe that because they brand you as a certain player, only red-ball or white-ball," he remarked.

Hanuma Vihari has represented India in 16 Tests so far, scoring 839 runs at an average of 33.56 with one hundred and five half-centuries.