Reports: Hanuma Vihari To Feature For Warwickshire In The Upcoming County Championship

Indian Test specialist Hanuma Vihari is all set to turn out for English County Warwickshire in the upcoming County Championship as he looks to acclimatize to the English conditions ahead of India’s bumper six-Test assignment in England which also includes the final of the ICC Test Championship.

Hanuma Vihari will play at least three games in the County Championship and he has already in England, a BCCI official confirmed to PTI on Tuesday.

“Yes, Vihari will be playing in the English county side for Warwickshire this season. He would play a few games. He is already in England now,” a senior BCCI official was quoted as saying by PTI.

The Warwickshire County Cricket Club has not announced the same but according to the BCCI official, the modalities are being chalked out.

“The contract is being chalked out. He will play a minimum of three games. We are trying to figure out if there is a chance to play a few more,” an official said.

Hanuma Vihari hasn’t played a lot of competitive cricket since getting injured during his marathon match-saving innings at the SCG back in January.

He underwent intense rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy post which he featured in the Vijay Hazare Trophy where he did not have the best of times as he managed just one fifty-plus score in six outings.

With him not being a part of any IPL franchise, the middle-order batsman needs game-time in order to be ready for the English summer and the county stint with Warwickshire should hold him in good stead.

“All his other Test colleagues are part of the IPL teams including Cheteshwar (Pujara). Even if it’s white-ball games, they will be fit and match-ready,” the source said.

“However, we need to ensure that Vihari also gets game time before the England tour. It’s not just one World Test Championship final but it’s followed by a full-fledged five-Test series. We need him ready,” he added.

Hanuma Vihari has featured in 12 Tests thus far and has managed 624 runs at an average of just over 32 with four half-centuries and one hundred.

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