Hanuma Vihari's philosophy of batting: 'I want bowler to earn my wicket'

Hanuma Vihari’s penchant for scoring runs in the longer format was evident in the just-concluded Irani Cup when he scored two centuries against Vidarbha. The 25-year-old talks to G Krishnan about his journey so far. Excerpts:

Playing domestic cricket after having played for India in Tests, what is the difference in approach?

Nothing changes, actually. It's how you look at playing domestic cricket again. I feel it is very important that I come back to domestic cricket and perform the same way that I used to before because this is where I came up from, playing domestic cricket, performing well and then getting into the international side. So, I cannot take domestic cricket for granted because that is where my grassroots belong. That is where I tried my performances and will keep on performing whenever I get the opportunity.

How much of a confidence does having so many first-class runs under your belt give you while going out to bat for Team India?

That gives you a boost because you know you have earned your spot in the international level. Having played so much cricket in the first-class circuit, it helps with confidence and when the pressure situation comes, it helps you keep calm. You know you have been in such situations a lot of times in domestic cricket. You have to just put that pressure aside and try to convert the situation into a positive one.

Many say that scoring runs in domestic cricket and in international cricket are a different ball game. How did you find it?

The intensity levels are different. Obviously, you are going to play against the best players of that country. And, the expectations are high with so many people watching. These are the external things that come into play. But, when you go into the ground, it is the same skill sets. The mindset is what differentiates between a domestic and an international player, how strong you are mentally and how you are able to tackle the situations. It is a big step up from domestic cricket. I have learnt that very quickly at the international level. I have to be at that level consistently over a long period of time.

Also, playing for India 'A' and learning from Rahul Dravid has made that transition smooth from domestic to the Test level, hasn't it?

Yes, definitely. In the last couple of years, whenever I have got the opportunity to play under him, it has been a wonderful experience. Not only have I performed but have also learnt a lot not just about the game but also how I should carry myself on the ground because he (Dravid) sets an example as coach how he carries himself. That itself sits on your game and the person he is, it sits on your person as well. I definitely took a lot out of him regarding the way he used to go about his batting and the way he carries himself on the ground. I learnt a lot in the India 'A' set up and it definitely helped me when I went up the ladder to the international scene.

What has being with the Indian dressing room taught you?

It has been good. The standards are really high in terms of skill sets, the expectations, the goals we set about fitness levels. They are pretty high. Everything is a professional set up, we have fun, we enjoy each other's success. Everything is positive at the moment. I am looking forward to many more years in the Indian dressing room.

How was it opening the innings for the first time in the Melbourne Test and batting for almost an hour-and-a half?

At the domestic level, I have been batting at the top of the order. So, playing new ball is not something something that is very different to me. Obviously, at the international level, opening the batting is a different scenario. It is a pressure situation, especially at the point of the series that was one-all and everything to play for. I am happy I could do a job for the team. I set my expectations high. I know I could have carried on and got a big score. But, whatever the team required from me, I could do that initially. I am happy I could do it.

Captain Kohli pointed out at your knock of seeing off the new ball as equally important as some others who have contributed to the Indian win. How did that feel?

The way he bats in the middle, when you are watching from the other end, give you the confidence. When someone is batting so confidently and dominating the bowling, you get confidence out of it. And watching him bat, you can learn a lot of things, how you tackle the bowlers. It has been a good experience so far. In my debut innings batting with him, I learnt quite a bit. I am really pleased that I could share a dressing room with him.

Can you recall how it was walking out to open with debutant Mayank Agarwal to an almost packed Melbourne Cricket Ground on the first morning of the Boxing Day Test?

Before going out to bat, I was nervous. Once I was in the middle, I was not looking at anything else. I was just focussing on the ball and focussing on what I had to do at that moment. Really, once you go into the ground, you have to focus on what you have to do and nothing else.

Shutting out everything else and focussing on the job at hand while opening for the first time in only your third Test is easier said than done, isn't it?

It doesn't come naturally, I guess. You have to develop that as a youngster when you play in the age-groups and the first-class level, what works for you to focus on the game and focus for long periods of time. Test match cricket is something you have to focus for six or seven hours a day for over a period of five days. It takes a lot of mental energy out of you. It becomes a habit after a point of time, how you have to focus and when you can really switch off. It is a habit you develop as a youngster.

What is your philosophy of batting?

My philosophy has always been simple. When I am batting in the Test match or the four-day format, I try to bat for as long as possible. I want the bowler to earn my wicket, I don't give my wicket easily even after scoring a hundred. That's always been my philosophy, to bat for as long as possible for the team. I take pride in playing for a long time and playing time in four-day cricket, because that is not something everyone can really do.

Do you see yourself in Cheteshwar Pujara mould in terms of being patient in scoring and watching the ball closely?

Obviously, I try to play time like he does, but I also play my shots. I don't back down from playing my shots like in the Irani Cup, the lofted shots or a sweep or even the reverse sweep. I know when and where to play the shots depending on the situation. I try to play more percentage shots. I admire Pujara as a cricketer, the way he goes about it but I don't really compare myself him because I have a different skill set to what he has.

Who do you look up to?

I have a lot of cricketers whom I admire in the modern era. Sachin Tendulkar was my idol when I started playing cricket. Virat and others are there from the modern era but AB de Villiers is my all-time favourite. I look up to him. He dominated in all three formats.

How much has life changed since you got selected for India?

Not much cricketing-wise. I just keep it simple and just to try to bat. Off the field, it has changed a bit but not much.

What differences did you find in playing in England and Australia?

Conditions were completely different, like chalk and cheese. England was something with swing and seaming conditions that you had to deal with totally different from the conditions in Australia, which was about bounce. You had to adapt to those conditions. Being aware of them is important. Luckily for me, I was part of an India 'A' tour to England before. I had the opportunity there for 40 days in England before the Test selection. I was well prepared. I knew that when I get an opportunity, not necessarily in England but anytime soon because I have been performing well, I would do well. Luckily, I got the opportunity in England and everything is history after that.

You are often said to be the man with the golden arm. Have you considered bowling on a regular basis?

I always used to bowl in the shorter format for the state team, not regularly but as a part-time. I know I could take a few wickets whenever the team required. I never thought I could bowl in Tests and pick up wickets. That's what happened.

Of your five Test wickets, 4 have been top order batsmen including Alastair Cook in his last international innings. Definitely, they were not fluke and there's some effort behind those wickets, isn't it?

That is something which I also really don't know. I just keep working on it and get better so that not only myself but the team also benefits. It gives balance to the team. If I can contribute, that will be nice.

You have set an Irani Cup record – 3 centuries in successive innings and joined Shikhar Dhawan as only the second batsman to score a century in each innings of an Irani Cup game. Is batting in domestic cricket easy after playing Test cricket?

I won't say it is easy. But it gives the confidence. Once you play Test cricket, it gives you the confidence that you belong to the next level from the domestic set up. That confidence makes a difference. I just wanted to bat as long as possible. It was not easy coming back to play domestic cricket. There are people's expectations. The confidence of playing in Test cricket has made domestic cricket a little bit easy. I still had to go out and score runs and I am happy the way I played in this game. I didn't think about the Irani Cup records but when I got to know, I am proud of them.

Does it put pressure on you to score runs every time you go out to bat?

Honestly, I don't really think about it. I think about the situation and bat accordingly. Not think about what people expect.

What goals have you set for yourself?

Right now, I just want to all formats for India and play for as long as possible. Representing India in the World Cup will be the ultimate thing and winning it for India will be the icing on the cake.

HANUMA VIHARI IN NUMBERS:
Format	Tests	First-class
Matches	4	70
Innings	7	109
Runs	167	5,759
Highest	56	302*
100s/50s	0/1	17/27
Average	23.85	59.98
Wickets	5	25

DID YOU KNOW?

• Hanuma Vihari's first two wickets in Test cricket came off successive deliveries on his debut, that of centurions Joe Root and Alastair Cook in the second innings at The Oval