IND vs SA: Rahul Dravid Reckons Hanuma Vihari, Shreyas Iyer Might Have To Wait For Chances With Seniors Around
Team India Rahul Dravid hinted that with senior players like Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara in the team, batters like Hanuma Vihari and Shreyas Iyer might have to stick around and wait for their opportunities.
Vihari was added to the playing XI for the second Test after Virat Kohli had to sit out due to an upper back spasm. He scored 60 runs in total but the runs were quite crucial in giving India a fighting total in the third innings.
“Firstly I must say Vihari played really in both innings. In first innings he got a nasty one and unfortunately for him, it popped up and the fielder just got his fingertips to it and really got a good catch, he batted beautifully in the second innings and that gives us confidence you know,” Dravid said.
“Shreyas (Iyer) obviously done that two or three Test matches ago and he has obviously done that and they have just got to take heart from the fact that whenever they are getting opportunities, they are doing well, and hopefully their time would come,” Dravid went on to mention.
It’s the nature of the sport – Rahul Dravid
Although Rahane and Pujara have been under the scanner for a while, they are continuing to be backed on the basis of their previous performances. They were brilliant in the third innings of the second Test but their spots aren’t cemented as of yet.
“If you look at some of our guys now senior players and being sort of considered, senior players, they have also had to wait for their time and also have had to score a lot of runs at the start of their careers.”
“So it happens (wait) as its nature of the sport. We can take a lot of heart from the manner Vihari batted in this game and that should give him a lot of confidence and that should give us a lot of confidence,” Dravid added.
India lost the second Test by seven wickets but Virat Kohli will return for the final Test in Cape Town to lead the side.
