India’s 24-year-old Hanuma Vihari had a dream debut during India’s fifth Test against England at the Oval a few days back. He delivered both with bat and ball as he scored his maiden Test fifty and also clinched three wickets and the young all-rounder has credited his skipper, Virat Kohli, to have helped him from the other end when the former came out to face the likes of Stuart Broad and James Anderson for the very first time in his life.
India’s 24-year-old Hanuma Vihari had a dream debut during India’s fifth Test against England at the Oval a few days back. He delivered both with bat and ball as he scored his maiden Test fifty and also clinched three wickets and the young all-rounder has credited his skipper, Virat Kohli, to have helped him from the other end when the former came out to face the likes of Stuart Broad and James Anderson for the very first time in his life.
“I was blank at that moment. It felt like a different world altogether — going out there to face James Anderson and Stuart Broad. I have been watching them on TV from a young age. And then to be suddenly facing them felt surreal,” Vihari said.
“It was difficult in the initial period. Kohli helped me a bit from the other end. He gave me a few cues which helped me initially. He told me that this is the hardest conditions you will get in international cricket. Nothing comes close to this. If you go through this spell by Anderson and Broad, it will be a good experience in your first Test innings. The words gave me a lot of confidence,” the young all-rounder added.
Vihari, who survived an LBW decision when he was yet to get off the mark, hit seven fours and a six during his maiden Test fifty before Moeen Ali dismissed him on 56.
“The intensity of the game is very different than what you play at India A. The importance of each ball is much more at the international level than at any other level. I am well prepared for my next tour as I know what needs to be done to match that intensity. It will give me a better chance of performing,” Vihari said.
The 24-year-old all-rounder also bagged three wickets, including centurions Alastair Cook and Joe Root in the same over. He finished with figures of 3 for 37.
“I want to improve as a bowler. If you have a batsman in top six who can bowl, it makes a huge difference for a team. I have started bowling a lot now. And will look to focus more and more on it. This can help the team as well as me in the long run,” said Vihari.
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 "Hanuma Vihari and Virat Kohli")
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