‘I know how to be patient in terms of waiting for my opportunities’- Hanuma Vihari

Team India's middle-order batter Hanuma Vihari made headlines with his batting style. While he has been doing so and saving games for India many times since the beginning, who can forget his heroics where he saved the Test and kept the series alive with a draw at SCG?

But, most of the time, he has been considered a backup player in the middle-order in the longer format. Having made his debut during the 2018 England tour, Vihari has only played 15 games so far. In that time period, he has opened the innings, came in to bat at No.3, handled the lower-middle order several times, and even bowled part-time off-spin, too.

While talking about his journey in domestic cricket, Vihari said in an interview with the New Indian Express: "I'd to struggle in domestic cricket for a long time. I've been performing consistently in the domestic circuit to make it to the national team. So I know how to be patient in terms of waiting for my opportunities. 

So that journey itself shows I have been waiting patiently for a chance by performing well for years together. I would say I've earned my place in the Indian team."

Promoted to No.3 in the absence of Cheteshwar Pujara in the last Test match, Hanuma Vihari is likely to be dropped down the order if he managed to be in the playing XI for the Edgbaston Test. He batted at the top-order slot in the warm-up contest against Leicestershire but failed to do well as he scored 3 and 20 in the match.

Vihari also acknowledged that there is a lot of competition for spots in the Indian team. Feeling that the only way to seal the spot is to make the most of the opportunity, he said: "It can get challenging. But whatever games I get to play, I try to do my best for the team and contribute as much as I can. You can't complain when you are playing for India because there is lots of competition," he added.

You take whatever opportunity that comes your way so you try to make that place your own. That is what I was trying to do for the last couple of years. Hopefully, going forward, I can cement my place," he continued.

He has scored 808 runs for India in Test cricket which came at an average of 35.13. He also stepped up with some important knocks in the World Test Championship (WTC).

Reflecting back on his journey, Vihari said: "It has been good. I've been part of the team for four years now. We have played some amazing series overseas (England and Australia). It has been a privilege to be part of those, it will be remembered for a long time. I hope it will continue for years to come."