Last Update on: January 10th, 2019 at 12:13 am
Gade Hanuma Vihari is the latest inclusion to the Indian team from the city of Hyderabad. He got a chance to present his talent on a bigger platform along with current India Under-19 skipper, Prithvi Shaw.
BCCI, on Wednesday, named Hanuma Vihari as the replacement of Kuldeep Yadav in the squad for the remaining two Tests against England.
The 24-year old Vihari is confident he will be able to cope up with the pressure of performing in the overseas conditions. However, Vihari was a member of India A who recently toured England.
Noteworthy, Hanuma Vihari has an average of 59.45 in first-class that is presently highest in the world cricket. The ex-Australia skipper, Steven Smith, lies on the second spot, who has an average of 57.27.
Photo Credit: IPL.
Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma who are considered as the cream of the Indian team have an average in 54s.
Hanuma Vihari’s maiden call-up delights coach
Hanuma Vihari was the leading scorer from Andra Pradesh in the last season. He amassed 752 runs in the six matches that included his unbeaten knock of 302. However, his coach was left pleased after the youngster got maiden India call-up.
“It was the former cricketer of Hyderabad, Nagesh Hammond who suggested Hanuma Vihari to coach John Manoj. While recalling the series of anecdotes,” John remembered.
“The day he joined our academy I knew he had it in him — he was timing the ball so well.”
After producing a flurry innings one after another, Vihari burst into under-16, Under-19, and Under-22 age groups. Soon after getting a mammoth score of runs there, he announced himself in Ranji Trophy. Vihari has often found himself among the run-getters from his side that helped him to earn his call.
“A sincere, committed and ambitious player, Vihari was always hungry for runs, and got them by the hundreds,” John added. “A day after his father passed away (Vihari was just 12 then) he smashed an unbeaten 82 and won the schools trophy for St Andrews, which provided for his education.”
