Former India opener Aakash Chopra has backed middle-order batsman Hanuma Vihari to regain his place in India’s XI for the upcoming matches against South Africa. Vihari last played for India this year in January 2021 in the Sydney Test, where he played a gritty saver for India. The talented batsman failed to find a place in the playing XI after that match in both domestic and overseas conditions.
Vihari was recently turned down for the New Zealand Test series at home, for which the selection committee faced a lot of scrutiny. However, the 28-year-old was later sent to South Africa with the India A team and has now joined the senior team for the three-match Test series on Proteas’ soil.
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Chopra recalled Vihari’s fighting innings against Australia in Sydney, where he faced 161 deliveries despite a hamstring burst.
“He will be sad. To be honest, I don’t want to be Hanuma Vihari right now because you don’t let me play matches at home. Last time I played for India, I had torn my hamstrings, but still I batted in Sydney and Saved India,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
The former India opener is upset over the handling of Vihari’s position in the Indian team by the Indian team management.
“After that, when there are matches at home, you don’t play me. You play with someone else at home and tell me to go to South Africa and get ready and they will play me there. I go to South Africa and get ready, take a bitter pill and score runs, but still you don’t play me. If you don’t want to play with me, what are you doing with me?” he added.
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Chopra claims that he is sure that head coach Rahul Dravid and Test captain Virat Kohli have explained the situation to Vihari. However, Chopra feels that Vihari has every right to be unhappy with the situation and one cannot feel what he must be going through at the moment.
“He has every right to be sad. I am sure Rahul Dravid must have spoken to him, Kohli must have also spoken to him and explained to him. It is okay to explain, but pain is felt only by those who are injured. We cannot feel what is going on in Hanuma Vihari’s mind at the moment, we can only show sympathy.”
“I don’t think he will be very happy with the way his Test career is shaping up as he should have played. He should have played the Kanpur Test and probably the Centurion Test as well. Let him play a few matches in India too, I’m not particularly happy with it,” Chopra added.
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