Hanuma Vihari seems to the answer: While Cheteshwar Pujara’s batting returns may have suffered a major dip in the past couple of years that led to his axing before the Sri Lanka series, and he may nor may not ever play a Test again for India, Pujara will still go down a great of the Indian Test team for his huge contributions in the twin series wins in Australia and in Asia.
Now, seems like the selectors have moved on from Cheteshwar Pujara, and Ajinkya Rahane too. Hanuma Vihari was the likeliest candidate to take up the number three position, despite Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer also being touted for brighter futures in the middle-order role.
Here are three reasons why Hanuma Vihari can be better than Cheteshwar Pujara in Test cricket:
Style of play
The key aspect of Hanuma Vihari’s game that made him the most suitable batter to replace Pujara at number three is his attributes which are very similar to Pujara’s: solid, patient, calm, trusted to battle out difficult situations.
Hanuma Vihari has a calm head on his shoulders and is tranquil in his temperament which helps him weather the storm – as he did in the Sydney Test last year, saving the Test for India with a torn hamstring – something that Pujara regularly did at the fall of an early wicket.
Overseas specialisation
Of his 15 Tests so far, Hanuma Vihari has played 12 out of India. He has been long seen as an overseas specialist, unable to get into India’s eleven at home, due to the combination that Kohli went with; further, last year Vihari was sent to South Africa with the A team while Shreyas Iyer made his debut in Kanpur versus New Zealand when it was Vihari who was incumbent for that place.
While Hanuma Vihari may feel unjust by being asked to bat mostly in overseas games, he has gathered some invaluable experience: in those 12 Tests away from home, Vihari has hit one century and four fifties, has an average of 35, which, going by the conditions and deeper bowling attacks in the current era, is a good average to have.
To be given a long rope by the management
This experience of overseas conditions and the trust the management has shown in him over the past four years will keep him in good stead going forward, and he could prove to be a match-winner as Pujara had been for India.
The Virat Kohli-Ravi Shastri management had given a long rope to Pujara and Rahane before they were eventually dropped. Now, one can expect the same by the Sharma-Dravid team to give their full backing to the 28-year-old Hanuma Vihari who has about at least 6-7 years in his career during which India will be touring a lot. Vihari is expected to be a constant presence in the batting line-up going forward which will give him the opportunities to grow in stature.
