Want To Develop My Off-Spin, Says Hanuma Vihari

Ahead of the first Test against West Indies, both Hanuma Vihari and Rohit sharma came into the West Indies tour with form behind them. Rohit was fresh off a World Cup campaign in which he made a record five centuries, while Vihari toured the Caribbean with the India A team, scoring 55 and 118* in the second unofficial Test. However, Vihari got the nod, as he can bowl a few overs in the middle for the team.

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Indeed, he did the job for the team by adding a crucial partnership for the team with Ajinkya Rahane in the middle. He missed his maiden Test century but garnered huge praise from the skipper Virat Kohli and the team management for standing in the middle when it matters the most. He even helped the team with his bowling as well.

Trying to keep on improving – Hanuma Vihari

Speaking of the same, Hanuma Vihari quoted that he is happy to contribute with the bat for the team and also wants to work on his bowling skills for the benefit of the team. He believes that his bowling option will give the team the right flexibility, especially, when playing in overseas games.

Hanuma Vihari also complemented Ajinkya Rahane for helping him out on the fourth day of the Test, where the duo put up 135 runs for the fifth wicket after India lost the wicket of Virat Kohli off Roston Chase. He thanked Ajinkya Rahane for helping him to get the idea of the wicket.

“It is important that my off-spin keeps developing, not only for myself but for the team as I fit into the team just because of that combination. I’m trying to keep on improving and getting better at it. So, hopefully, I will get more overs and help the team in future,” Vihari told reporters in a post-match conference.

“Rahane was helping me out with the way bowlers were bowling because he batted for a long time in the first innings as well. He was helping me out with what the wicket was playing like,” Vihari said.

Well, it was a perfect outing for Hanuma Vihari with the Indian team. If he continues in a similar fashion, soon, he is going to cement his place in the playing XI as a regular. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma might wait once again in the second Test alongside Ravichandran Ashwin.

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India declared their innings on a score of 343/7, asking the hosts to chase down 419. Jasprit Bumrah spearheaded the pace attack and toppled the West Indies with a spell of 8-4-7-5. None of the top five batsmen could reach the double-digit mark that saw the home side being bowled out for 100, losing the opening game by 318 runs.