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'It Took A Lot Of Time To Understand Why I Was Dropped...,' Indian Star Opens Up On Test

image-ljydupleHanuma Vihari [Image- Twitter]

Indian cricketer Hanuma Vihari has admitted his frustration and disappointment at being left out of the Test set-up, but the 29-year-old is now seeking a new start.

Vihari was a crucial part of the Test team ever since he made his debut in 2018. The gritty right-handed batsman smashed his maiden and only Test ton in the Caribbean four years ago.

As Team India gets set to once again lock horns with the West Indies in a two-match affair, starting tomorrow, Vihari is nowhere near the set-up.

Vihari was elevated to the No.3 spot in February 2022, but he struggled to make the opportunities, and with Cheteshwar Pujara returning to the side, he soon found himself out of reckoning.

As he gets ready to captain South Zone in the final of Duleep Trophy, Vihari is seeking a fresh start, though he admits that it's incredibly tough to keep yourself motivated when you know that you may not get a chance to represent India again.

"It's always tough to make a comeback Once you're dropped, it plays on your mental side as well. It affects your mindset. I've gone through that last season. This season, I want to keep everything aside and focus on my batting, try to get better at my skills and do what I've been doing best for the last 12 years in first-class cricket. If it happens, it happens. If not, I'll try to keep getting better and help my state side or zones," said Hanuma Vihari in an exclusive interview with ESPNCricinfo.

"It's very tough to be motivated. That's where family really plays a part. They've been supportive, they understand what I'm going through. It's a difficult phase. If anyone says we are motivated to come back, maybe they are," he added.

Vihari further added that it took a lot of time for him to finally make peace with the fact that he is no longer a part of the Test team, though he is yet to find a reason behind his axe as he believes that he did his best for the team.

"For me, it took a lot of time to understand why I was dropped and then to again get motivated to try and make a comeback. I try to work on my game both mentally and physically. Now I'm in a good space; I want to go out there and get runs. The rest I leave it to the selectors."

Vihari will look to make a strong statement with the bat in the upcoming Duleep Trophy final against the West Zone.