Hanuma Vihari impresses on debut: Can he become the 'saviour' India desperately need?

On Friday, Hanuma Vihari became the 292nd man to play Test cricket for India. 

On Saturday, he came out to bat for the first time in Test cricket and looked as comfortable as a deer in the headlights. He had two close LBW calls. But, he survived the day. 

On Sunday, he stepped up and made his mark. 

Hanuma Vihari became the 26th Indian to bring a 50+ score in his debut innings on day three of the fifth final test match against England at The Oval. More importantly, before getting out after scoring 56 runs, he had added 77 runs with Ravindra Jadeja for the seventh wicket and, even more importantly, denied England a wicket early on Sunday morning.

Hanuma Vihari's Test journey has already become an interesting story. While his call-up to the Indian test side was a surprise, he inclusion in the playing XI for the final test match bordered on controversial. 

Many questioned Vihari's selection ahead of more experienced and long suffering Karun Nair. However, Vihari has justified his selection so far. He has ridden his beginner's luck and converted it into a great start to his career. 

Vihari's innings is exactly what India has been lacking in the series so far. Of course, it will be way to early to say that Vihari has filled the gap in India's middle order, but it has been a good start. 

India deperately need a batsman in the lower-middle order who can notch up such innings. There has not been a series that has better demonstrated the importance of runs by lower-middle order than this one.  

Hanuma's innings, while not so assured, was a useful one. He showed grit and composure to fend off the English attack after a shaky start. India need such a gutsy batsman down the order. They need a man who can 'save' the innings with useful contributions when the top order fails. 

The fact that Vihari can bowl a little too makes him valueble player to have.

Vihari has still a lot to prove but he has made us hope at least. 

Impressive record

24-year-old Vihari is the first Andhra Pradesh cricketer in 19 years to earn a Test berth. Incidentally, the last player from Andhra to play a Test for India was chief national selector MSK Prasad.

The right-hander has been a prolific run-scorer in domestic cricket. His average of 59.45 is the highest in first class cricket across the world. 

Hanuma scored 752 runs at an average of 94.00 in the 2017-18 Ranji Trophy season. His finest knock, apart from a maiden triple-century in a league match against Odisha, came against Ranji champs Vidarbha in the Irani Cup. Hanuma scored a brilliant 183 from 327 balls against the likes of  Umesh Yadav and Rajneesh Gurbani.

Recently, Hanuma struck a match-winning 148 for India A against South Africa A in Bengaluru. This was his second century, apart from two half-centuries, in his last five first class innings. 

Earlier this year, Hanuma was one of four players to be picked for both the 50-overs and four-day squads for India A's tour of England. He managed to get a 147 against West Indies A in the one-day tri-series on that tour, and finished with 253 runs in three innings.

Solid technique

Hanuma possesses a solid technique and thrives playing square of the wicket, was a part of the World Cup-winning India Under-19 squad in 2012. The only blemish in his resume is the fact that he hasn't featured in the Indian Premier League since 2015.

However, what works in Hanuma's advantage, especially considering the England Test series, is the fact that he has spent quality time playing in the UK. The middle-order batsman has spent two full season (2014 and 2015) with  Hutton CC in the Shephered Neame Essex First Division League. During that time, the talented youngster impressed all by scoring six centuries.

(With Agency Inputs)