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Hanuma Vihari Leads Rest Of India To Irani Cup 2023 Win, Completes Captaincy Double

image-lnabi62gHanuma Vihari (x.com)

Indian Test zealot Hanuma Vihari led the Rest of India team to an emphatic 175-run win over Saurashtra to lift the 2023 Irani Cup in Rajkot. Defending 255 runs against the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy winners, the Rest of India bowlers dusted out their hosts for just 79 on the third evening of the match.

Notably, Vihari had also led the South Zone side to their 14th Duleep Trophy title earlier this year in Bengaluru, thus achieving a rare captaincy double for himself through his latest feat in Rajkot.

Vihari shines as captain in India’s 2023 domestic year

Hanuma Vihari, who played the last of his 16 Tests for India more than a year ago in England, scored 490 runs across eight matches for Andhra at the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy season.

The senior cricketer was tasked to lead South Zone at the 2023 Duleep Trophy in Bengaluru between June and July. Vihari scored crucial runs with the bat as he top-scored in both innings of the final to engineer a 75-run win for his side.

Mere months after lifting the Duleep Trophy for South Zone, he has now lifted the Irani Cup 2023 for the Rest of India by defeating Ranji Trophy winners Saurashtra in a lop-sided final.

Hanuma Vihari made his international debut for Team India through a 2018 Test match at The Oval. While he struggled to make runs during the initial stages of his career, Vihari eventually found his footing through some vital innings during India’s subsequent tours of West Indies and Australia.

The right-handed batsman was part of India’s historic Test series wins in Australia in 2018 and 2021. A slump in his batting form ultimately led to his exit from the national side, as he continues his quest of a comeback with constant first-class appearances within India’s domestic infrastructure.