Published: Sep 07, 2018, 02:59 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 07, 2018, 02:58 PM (IST)
Hanuma Vihari was given his maiden Test cap on Friday moments before the start of the fifth Test between India and England at the Oval, making him the 292nd Test player for the country. The BCCI confirmed the news via twitter.
Proud moment for Hanuma Vihari as he becomes the 292nd player to represent #TeamIndia in Tests.#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/M5qh0Y54E0
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 7, 2018
Vihari, 24, who will ply his trade for Andhra this Ranji season moving from Hyderabad, boasts a first-class average of 59.94 – the highest among active cricketers. He was the fifth highest run-getter in the 2017-18 season scoring 752 runs at an average of 94.00, including a highest score of 302 not out against Odisha, his maiden triple hundred. In the Irani Trophy, he top-scored with 183 for Rest of India. During India A’s tour of England, Vihari had amassed 410 runs in six matches at an average of 51.25.
In the recently concluded Tri-series featuring England Lions, India A and West Indies A, Vihari had scored 253 List A runs in three matches. In two FC matches, against West Indies A, he struck 119 runs including a half-century. More recently, in the two unofficial Tests against South Africa A at home, he his scores were 54 and 148 in two innings.
Vihari has been a regular when it comes to spending cricket summer in England. During the 2014 and 2015 season, he played for Hutton CC in the Shepherd Neame Essex First Division League, scoring six centuries.
Vihari is India’s second debutant of the series after Rishabh Pant. Pant, 20, received his Test cap during the third Test at Trent Bridge, which India won by 203 runs.
