India tour of South Africa: Hanuma Vihari creates selection headache for Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli with 3rd consecutive 50 vs SA-A – Hanuma Vihari has responded to his sacking from the Indian team in fine style scoring three consecutive half-centuries while on tour with the India A side in South Africa. Vihari who last played for India heroically in the Sydney Test with a hamstring injury was omitted from the home series against New Zealand, with Shreyas Iyer getting the opportunity to debut in his absence. The Andhra batsman has shown his class and will be knocking on the selectors’ door making life difficult for Cheteshwar Pujara and Anjinkya Rahane. Follow Insidesport.in for all IND vs SA series updates.
India tour of South Africa: Hanuma Vihari creates selection headache for Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli with 3rd consecutive 50 vs SA-A
After falling cheaply in the first unofficial Test against South Africa, Hanuma Vihari turned a corner and showcased his class with a string of half-centuries. He scored a fine 54 off 164 deliveries in difficult conditions during the first innings of the second Test, before following it up with yet another half-century in the second innings at a brisk pace as India attempted to chase down 234 in the fourth innings.
The Indian star scored an unbeaten 72, an innings laced with 12 boundaries in his 116-ball stay at the crease. Now Vihari made it three in a row with another long vigil, scoring a patient 63 off 170 deliveries, in the third Test. While Vihari will be disappointed to not have converted any of these knocks into centuries, he has certainly shown that he was home to the conditions in South Africa and could bat as per the needs of the team, be it playing the waiting game or taking the attack to the opposition.
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India tour of South Africa: Hanuma Vihari creates selection headache for Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli with 3rd consecutive 50 vs SA-A
Hanuma Vihari’s string of half-centuries come at a time where both Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane are struggling to hold onto a place in the line-up. India tend to play an extra batsman in overseas conditions and Vihari could get a look in, but with Shreyas Iyer also getting his career off to a fine start, the question remains on the spots of Rahane and Pujara. Vihari has shown that he can play both roles with ease and his ability to bowl part-time spin also gives him an added advantage.
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