IND vs NZ Test: Hanuma Vihari added to India A squad: In a selection shocker, the Chetan Sharma led selection committee dropped Hanuma Vihari from the Test squad for New Zealand. That was after resting several senior players. But now, he has been added to India A squad for South Africa despite not naming him originally. Follow India vs New Zealand T20I & Test series Live Updates on InsideSport.in.
Vihari, who was part of the squad on the England tour but only as a bench warmer, last played in the famous Sydney Test. Partnering with R Ashwin, he saved the Sydney Test against Australia, fighting injury at the same time. Hanuma Vihari’s 23 off 161 balls and Ashwin’s 39 of 128 helped India eke out a draw on the final day.
“It is better to send him to South Africa. The Indian team will be playing in South Africa later this year. If he scores there then he will be picked for the Indian team against South Africa,” a BCCI source told Indian Express.
IND vs NZ Test: Selection SHOCKER – Sydney Test hero Hanuma Vihari dropped from NZ Test squad, to be part of India A Squad for South Africa
Hence, it came as a rude shock when he was dropped from the New Zealand series with many calling out BCCI and the selection committee. With no IPL and lack of international matches, it can be assumed he was not just rested.
But the selection committee decided to add him to India A squad of South Africa after announcing the squad on Friday. But he has to perform well in India A tour to press for his selection. The Chetan Sharma-led committee isn’t impressed with his form. In the warm-up match against Select County XI, Vihari scored just 24 and 43*.
🚨 UPDATE: @Hanumavihari has been added to the India ‘A’ squad for the South Africa tour. https://t.co/ISYgtlw1S1 pic.twitter.com/uy3UD1pCN5
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 12, 2021
Hanuma Vihari: From Sydney Test hero to bench warmer
- Hanuma Vihari’s gritty 23-run knock off 161 balls may not be amusing to T20 lovers but that crucial knock helped India draw the match and win the Test series.
- The Hyderabad batsman was battling a hamstring injury.
- While he was recovering from a hamstring injury, he didn’t find a place in the squad against England at home.
- He went to England to play County cricket but didn’t find success.
- On England tour, he was picked but only played in the warm-up match against Select County XI and scored 24 and 43.
- He was dropped for the Test series against New Zealand.
- He was not named in India A tour but was later added to the squad.
IND vs NZ Test: Selection SHOCKER – Sydney Test hero Hanuma Vihari dropped from NZ Test squad, to be part of India A Squad for South Africa
As for the New Zealand series, Ajinkya Rahane will lead in the 1st match while Rohit Sharma has been rested for the entire Test series. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami have also been rested with Cheteshwar Pujara named the vice-captain.
Virat Kohli is expected to return and lead the side in the 2nd Test but he is yet to take a call on that.
India ‘A’ squad for South Africa tour: Priyank Panchal (Captain), Prithvi Shaw, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Devdutt Padikkal, Hanuma Vihari, Sarfaraz Khan, Baba Aparajith, Upendra Yadav (wicket-keeper), K Gowtham, Rahul Chahar, Saurabh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Umran Malik, Ishan Porel, Arzan Nagwaswalla
IND vs NZ Test: Selection SHOCKER – Sydney Test hero Hanuma Vihari dropped from NZ Test squad, to be part of India A Squad for South Africa
