Hanuma Vihari

Hanuma Vihari (born 13 October 1993) is an Indian cricketer who plays for Andhra in Indian domestic cricket. A right-handed batsman and occasional right-arm off break bowler, he was a member of the India Under-19 cricket team that won the 2012 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in Australia. He made his Test debut for India in September 2018.

Domestic career

Vihari played for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the sixth edition of the Indian Premier League in 2013. In one of the league matches against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Hyderabad, Vihari opened the bowling as an off-spinner and removed Chris Gayle for just 1. He also scored an unbeaten 46 in the same match while chasing. Sunrisers went on to win this match through a super-over.

Vihari was responsible for one-third of Hyderabad's total in the innings against Andhra in 2013/14 Ranji Trophy opener at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. He scored 75 in the first innings before being dismissed by CV Stephen, and then scored unbeaten 68 runs.

In October 2017, he scored his first triple century, making 302 not out for Andhra against Odisha in the 2017–18 Ranji Trophy. He was the leading run-scorer for Andhra in the 2017–18 Ranji Trophy, with 752 runs in six matches.

In October 2018, he was named in India B's squad for the 2018–19 Deodhar Trophy. In December 2018, he was bought by the Delhi Capitals in the player auction for the 2019 Indian Premier League. In October 2019, he was named as the captain of India A for the 2019–20 Deodhar Trophy. He was released by the Delhi Capitals ahead of the 2020 IPL auction.

International career

In August 2018, he was called up to India's Test squad for the final two Tests against England. He made his Test debut against England on 7 September 2018, in the 5th Test match of India tour of England 2018, and scored his maiden half-century (56 off 124 balls) in the first innings. In that match he also became the final bowler in test cricket to dismiss England’s highest ever test run scorer Alastair Cook .

On 25 August 2019, against the West Indies, Vihari made 93 runs off 128 balls in the 2nd innings of the 1st Test match, which was labelled as a crucial knock for India as they gave the Windies a target of 419 runs with only 1 day remaining of the Test match. In the second Test match against the West Indies, Vihari scored his maiden Test century. He outplayed the fiery Australian attack in 2020-2021 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the third test at Sydney with an unbeaten 23 playing 161 balls and ensured India to a draw. While batting in 4th innings and last day of the match, he suffered a hamstring injury just before the tea. But, he continued to play and along with R. Ashwin and saved the match for India.