5 Test cricketers who are capable of bagging IPL contracts

4. Hanuma Vihari

Over the last couple of years, Hanuma Vihari has become the desired number 5 for India in Test matches. In just 11 Test matches so far, the 27-year-old batsman has scored 597 runs at an average of 33.17 with four 50s and one 100.

Although Vihari has already played IPL before, he has not been able to leave any impact whatsoever. So far, Vihari has played 24 IPL games across three seasons, 2013, 2015, and 2019. He scored 284 runs at an average of 14.2 and a strike rate of 88.47, which is by the standard of T20 cricket, a very poor stat. In these 24 games, Vihari scored no fifties and hit just one six.

This non-consistency has been the reason why IPL franchises often ignore him, and he goes unsold at the auction. But this is a new Vihari now. He looks like a much more confident player now, backs his game well, plays shots to all parts of the ground and shows maturity when needed.

Vihari made his Test debut against England in the year 2018 after an excellent first-class season and scored 56 runs in his debut innings itself. Since then, he has continued to perform very well for India in the lower middle order. The good thing about Vihari is that he can bat at any position and can chip in with his part-time off-spin as well. He has 5 scalps to his name. In the 2018 Test series against Australia, he even opened the batting for India in the absence of regular openers. This shows how versatile and agile the player is.

Currently, most franchises in the IPL are struggling with the lack of an experienced middle-order batsman. That’s where Vihari comes in handy. He can anchor the innings as well as hit strokes whenever required. With his flexible nature and good stroke-play, he can come in handy for any franchise that buys him.