When the Indian selectors picked Prithvi Shaw and Hanuma Vihari for the final two Tests, there was excitement around young Shaw. However, bereft of this palpable excitement, few people knew about Hanuma Vihari and the rapid strides he has taken in his cricket career. This international call-up was long due and it is just a vindication of his consistent run of scores.
The right-hander is in the form of his life and is nothing short of a run machine. He made his debut at the raw age of 17 and in 63 games he has peeled off 5142 runs. His average reads a staggering 59.79 which includes 24 half-centuries and 15 centuries.
His best performance in domestic circuit came in the 2017-18 season when he scored 752 runs in six matches at an astonishing average of 94. The run tally included his maiden triple ton in first-class when he scored a mammoth 302 versus Odhisha.
The aforementioned average makes Vihari sit at the peak of an extremely elite list. His first-class average is more than any other contemporary first-class player across the world. Former Australian captain Steven Smith is on top with 57.27. Virat Kohli is at number 5.
Best batting average in First Class among current players(minimum 50 innings):
- 59.79 Hanuma Vihari
- 57.27 Steven Smith
- 55.37 Fawad Alam
- 54.71 Rohit Sharma
- 54.58 Virat Kohli
Vihari became the first Andhra cricketer in 19 years to be picked for India's Test squad for the fourth and fifth Tests in England. MSK Prasad, the head of the selection committee and former Indian test wicketkeeper, was the last player from the state to play for India.
He scored a match-winning 148 against South Africa A in Bengaluru in his last first-class match, making it two fifties and a century in his last five first-class appearances.
Vihari has made all the right noise. When he was snubbed from the IPL, he flew to England to play in the league matches. Back in 2014 and 2015, he played for Hutton CC in the Shepherd Neame Essex First Division League and slammed six centuries.
International cricket will be a different kettle fish, but Vihari has done all that he could to be ready for the challenges ahead!
