Hanuma Vihari | Indian National Cricket Team |
Hanuma Vihari. Credit: Getty Images

Hanuma Vihari, who has cemented his berth in Indian National Cricket team’s Test side is ready to capitalise on the low expectations to change the popular perception of not being a good T20 batsman.

Meanwhile, Delhi Capitals have roped the youngster for the IPL 2019 after he missed the last three season due to poor strike rate. Hanuma Vihari admits that he is ready to take the perception head-on and prove them wrong in the IPL. The eight-team mega tournament will start from March 23 with Chennai Super Kings facing Royal Challengers Bangalore. Currently, Vihari has a strike rate of over 100 with 1219 runs from 65 games.

He was a part of Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2013, but a lot has changed since then. He has scored loads of runs for India A and also struck a fifty against England on his Test debut.

Hanuma Vihari, IPL 2019, Delhi Capitals
Getty Images

I think because of the slow strike-rate of the past, people won’t have expectations from me, which can be a great thing. I take it positively because now I have a chance to prove them all wrong,” Vihari told PTI in an exclusive interview.

I didn’t sleep the previous night

Virat Kohli & Co went with a new opening pair in Mayank Agarwal and Hanuma Vihari in the Boxing Day Test. With KL Rahul and Murali Vijay failing continuously, the management pinned all their hopes on the young duo.

Speaking about the experience of Boxing Day Test, Vihari admitted that he couldn’t sleep the previous night. Although he managed to score only eight runs but batted for 66 balls thus easing out the pressure on Cheteshwar Pujara. He also noted that it was an outstanding feeling to bat in front of 80000 people at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. India eventually went on to win that Test match banking on a century from Pujara to seal their first ever series win in Australia.

Read More  Rishabh Pant blames this player after Delhi Capitals' loss vs Rajasthan Royals
Hanuma Vihari
Getty Images

It was quite tough. At the international level, the challenge of opening the innings is totally different from domestic. The deliveries come fast, and they come high.

The openers obviously are targeted more because the opposition wants early breakthroughs. But it’s exciting as well because walking out there to bat in front of 80,000 people at the MCG is quite an unbelievable feeling. I didn’t sleep the previous night,” he concluded.

I am an accountant by qualification, my parents thought their obedient son would study further to become a CA, but I had other things in mind. An ardent Cricket fan is following his passion and making...