The 24-year-old is the first batsman from Andhra Pradesh in 19 years to be picked for India's Test squad – the last one was MSK Prasad. Having an outstanding first-class batting average of 59.79 in 63 matches, Vihari has already struck 15 hundreds and 24 fifties with a best of an unbeaten 302 against Odisha.
The best knock of his career thus far, however, has been the coruscating 183 that he struck against Ranji Trophy champions Vidarbha in the Irani Cup while featuring for Rest of India earlier this year.
Vihari has been on the radar of the selectors this year because of his prolific run with the bat in recent times. In his last match, in fact, he notched up a splendid 148 for India A in the 2nd unofficial Test against South Africa A.
Later, on India A's tour of England this June, Vihari ended up as the third highest run-getter in the one-day tri-series, scoring 253 runs in 3 matches with one hundred and one fifty.
Vihari shifted from Hyderabad to Andhra in 2016 and has had a fruitful association with the state, becoming the leading run-scorer for them in the 2017-18 season of the Ranji Trophy. He scored 752 runs in just 6 matches at a stunning average of 94, scoring 2 hundreds and 3 fifties.
Vihari is known to pick up the lengths quickly and also likes to play close to the body and straight – all traits of a very good batsman.
A key part of the Indian squad that won the 2012 U-19 World Cup in Australia, Vihari has featured in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Sunrisers Hyderabad as well. He has also played two seasons in England for Hutton CC in the Shepherd Neame Essex First Division League, where the batsman did exceptionally well by scoring six hundreds.
Clearly, Hanuma Vihari, through his consistency and gumption for scoring big runs, has ensured that the selectors simply could not ignore him. And while it is unlikely that he will get to feature in the starting eleven for India in the remaining two Tests against England, his selection will serve as a massive confidence booster for the young man.
