India’s top order failed
In the ongoing 1st practice test match between New Zealand and India at Hamilton, India started batting in first innings. Where the opener Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal return to pavilion without performing as expected. As India is in the number one position in test matches the performance from this duo scatters everyone belief. Prithvi Shaw lose his wicket when India not even scored a single run, followed by Agarwal(1) and the most expected Shubman Gill also lost his wicket in the very first ball.
Ajinkya Rahane return to pavilion when he scored just 18 off 30 balls, India now lose 4 wickets from scoring 38 runs in total. India now need a quick comeback from losing the wicket which is provided by the Vihari and Cheteshwar Pujara. This duo involved in 195 run stand off and provoked India from sinking. Pujara gone for 93 and Vihari who made a ton in the practice match return pavilion(retd out) for 101. After his wicket India got cleaned for 263 runs.
100+ run partnership comes up between Cheteshwar Pujara & Hanuma Vihari Keep going 💪
India 178/4 after 60 overs.#NZAvIND | #NZvIND | #TourMatch | #Pujara | #Vihari pic.twitter.com/oRFSZq3H4A
— Extra Pace (@Extra_Pace) February 14, 2020
Idea of opening
Vihari made an impressive performance and proved his presence that guides India towards a descent score. He comes up with an idea of opening the innings in the upcoming Tests against New Zealand, although he’s “not been informed anything” by the team management.
Vihari states : “You have to understand what shots to avoid on these pitches – initially at least,” Vihari said. “Then if you can control it in your mind then I feel it’s not so difficult to adjust. But once you have a certain gameplan and if you can stick to it, then I feel it’s easy enough to adjust.
“In international level, you have to be thinking on your feet. And I was quick enough to adjust my games according to the conditions so whenever I bat next, New Zealand or Australia, wherever it is, it is up to me what I want to do with my game and how quickly I adjust and I’m happy that I could do it.”
“Sometimes you have to understand the team combination as well,” Vihari explained. “You can’t get disheartened by it. I understood as well when you are playing at home, we play 5 bowlers. It’s obvious that one batter has to miss out. So I took it in my stride. And I thought when I bat next for my team, I’ll just go out there and follow my process and not try too much or not try to prove anyone but do my basics right and stick to my processes.”
Hanuma Vihari retires after scoring a century#NZAvIND | #NZvIND | #TourMatch | #Pujara | #Vihari pic.twitter.com/tmvTzW6e4P
— Extra Pace (@Extra_Pace) February 14, 2020
Versatile Vihari
He also opened for India before, at the MCG in 2018 after their regular openers went into a rut. In the last year’s West Indies tour he scored one hundred and two fifties in four innings. So Vihari can play in his own game or as per the team’s needs.
“We experienced that against New Zealand A as well. When the wicket flattens out, they try to experiment with the short balls and I’m sure even Neil Wagner will come up with the same ploy., We’ve seen it before in the Australian series and the home series for them. We are prepared for it. We’ve got that good experience in India A as well. They did come up with short balls when we played against New Zealand A. Today as well they bowled quite a number of short balls. It’s good exposure for us,” Vihari said.
