Hanuma Vihari discloses how Virat Kohli boosted him while batting in England

For 24-year-old Hanuma Vihari, the journey has just started. The talented right-handed batsman made an impressive Test debut at The Oval last month, hitting a fifty when his side was in a spot to bring it back into the match and also picked up three key wickets in the second innings. Overall, it was a debut that has given Vihari an acknowledgement and encouragement to flourish in his future assignments.

Vihari, who was called for the last two Tests against England, has been picked for the two-Test series against the Windies at home and eyes will be on him as one of the members of India’s new crop of players. Vihari, who averages above 59 in first-class cricket, however, could not do much against the visiting Caribbeans in the two-day warm-up game in Vadodara, falling for just three.

Days before India take on the Windies in the first Test in Rajkot, Vihari spoke with India TV in an interview where he stressed on various issues, including how it is like scoring a Test fifty on debut. Vihari engaged in a few vital partnerships in the first innings of that Oval Test, including with captain Virat Kohli and also with Ravindra Jadeja.

“It actually went well, got a fifty on my first innings, got three wickets as well, I’m happy. We can score runs in England, as you saw, the batting performance improved, Jadeja and I put up a partnership as well, before that it was me and Virat’s partnership and in the second innings we put up a good fightback. We had the belief that we could score runs,” Vihari told IndiaTV.

Vihari also said what Kohli told him while batting in the game, which immediately boosted him to score more. He recalled a moment when Kohli asked him to play like he does in first-class cricket; play fearlessly and spend time at the crease. According to the young batsman, it helped him to hang on and play more.

Vihari got his India call after putting up a good performance in first-class cricket and when India A played in England a few months back.

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