He was turned down by the Indian Premier League franchise, but Team India’s Test specialist Hanuma Vihari is all set to prepare for the upcoming six Test seasons in the United Kingdom by competing for English County for Warwickshire. The right-handed middle-order batsman has left for Britain and will be part of the Birmingham-based county side for at least three matches this season. A senior BCCI official said on Tuesday, “Vihari will play in the English county team for Warwickshire this season. He will play a few games. He is already in England.”
The official page for Warwickshire County has not yet announced, but according to BCCI officials, modalities are being worked out.
“The contract is being terminated. He will play a minimum of three games. We are trying to find out if there is a chance to play some more,” said an official.
According to an ESPNcricinfo report, Vihari is coming in place of South African batsman Peter Malan, who is currently facing visa-related problems as the UK authorities have been asked by South Africa to “fix South Africa in relation to the global VVID-19 situation Red Zone “.
Vihari last played for the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2019 and since then has failed in consecutive auctions after bidding as a Test specialist.
The 27-year-old has scored 624 runs in 12 Tests for India at an average of 32 plus. He has scored a century and four half-centuries.
Vihari’s last India outing took place in the Sydney Test against Australia, where his epic four-hour vigil (23 not out) with Ravichandran Ashwin with a torn hamstring saved the game for the visiting team.
He came back after an intensive rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, but had an indifferent Vijay Hazare Trophy for Andhra, scoring only a half-century and failing to reach double digits in the next five matches.
He said, ‘This time during the domestic season and being part of the Vihari Test team, they need match practice.
“All his other teammates are part of the IPL teams including Cheteshwar (Pujara). Even if it is a white ball game, they will be fit and ready for the match,” the source said.
He added, “However, we need to ensure that Vihari gets the playing time before the tour of England. It is not just a World Test Championship final, but also a series of five Test matches after that. We have to Preparation needs to be done. “
Over the years, the BCCI has encouraged many of its cricketers to play and play county cricket, especially before the England tour.
Ishant Sharma, when he was not part of the IPL, went to Sussex and became a better bowler over the years.
Promoted
Ashwin and Axar Patel have also played county cricket in recent years.
The most high-profile name to play cricket in the country (in 2018), but missed due to injury was Indian captain Virat Kohli, who had a contract with Surrey.
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