We'll Be Confident Going Into The WTC Final, Going To Be Challenging In English Condition - Hanuma Vihari
Published - 16 May 2021, 06:58 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:46 AM
Hanuma Vihari says the Indian team is confident going into the inaugural ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand starting June 18 in Southampton.
The right-hander has made a return to the Test squad after getting injured on the Australia tour. Hanuma Vihari tore his hamstring while batting in the Sydney Test. He alongside R Ashwin, who also had a bad back, batted valiantly and saved the game for India.
Hanuma Vihari played out 163 balls on the fifth day against one of the greatest Aussie bowling attacks. He missed the Brisbane Test and then the home series against England. The Andhra Pradesh batsman went unsold in the IPL auction; he signed a deal with Warwickshire for the County Championship and is currently in England.
Trying to prepare as best as I can for the WTC and the Test series: Hanuma Vihari
While it remains to be seen if the 27-year-old is included in the team for the WTC final, Hanuma Vihari says he is making sure he does the right preparations for the game. Post the WTC final, India will take on England in a 5-Test series.
He understands that facing the New Zealand bowlers – the pace quartet of Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Kyle Jamison, and Neil Wagner – in the English conditions will be highly challenging. Vihari had made his Test debut on the previous tour to England in 2018; he returns to the same shores again, this time with more confidence and experience under the belt.
“I am trying to prepare in the best way possible for the WTC Final and the England series. It’s going to be interesting and exciting as well for all the Indian fans because it’s the first edition of the WTC. We are in the finals and we are playing New Zealand which is going to be challenging in this condition,” Hanuma Vihari told India Today.
“We all know that but the Indian team can do outstanding things. I am sure that we’ll be confident going into the WTC final. I am trying to prepare as best as I can for the WTC and the Test series after that,” he added.
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