Having earned plaudits for his fighting performances with the bat during India's overseas Tests, Hanuma Vihari, India's middle-order batsman is now looking to further polish his skills with a stint in England's county championships, Cricbuzz reports.
The 26-year-old is said to have come close to inking a deal with a prominent county team, but the outbreak of COVID-19 has meant the plans has been postponed for the time being.
"I was supposed to play four English county games this season. I would only be able to tell you the name when all the paperwork is complete. Right now, it's on hold due to the unavoidable situation (COVID-19)," Vihari said, in an exclusive chat with PTI.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is currently drawing up contingency plans ahead of this season's county championship and Vihari is confident that he would be able to play a part in this summer, considering India's next Test assignment is only slated to be in December, 2020. "Hope once it's under control, I will be able to play those games. It will be a learning experience for me," he said.
The outbreak of Coronavurus forced the BCCI into freezing the remaining part of the domestic season, but that hasn't left Vihari without any cricket. Showing utmost commitment to his employers, the Andhra batsman turned up for Nelson CC in a Tamil Nadu cricket association league match in Chennai on Tuesday (March 17). In a drawn game against Alwarpet CC, Vihari spent useful time in the middle, returning with 202 not out. "I work for Nelson and I am committed to play when I am available. It was a good match practice. Now I am back in Hyderabad. I will be taking a break for the time being," he said.
Vihari wasn't at his fluent best in the 2-Test series against New Zealand, returning with scores of 7, 15, 55 and 9 in the four innings. He was however left disappointed that he didn't cash in on the half-century in the first innings of the Christchurch Test.
"I wouldn't call it my best innings. Yes, I was playing well but that innings didn't get a victory for my team. It was good to score runs in tough conditions but you value it more when the team wins," he said.
In his short-career which has lasted nine Tests so far, the stylish batsman hasn't had a chance to feature in home Tests, but believes he has the game to excel in any conditions. "Adaptability. I believe I have been able to adapt well in all conditions and I have confidence that I can perform any role that the team assigns me," he said. "I am sure that I will get a chance to play in home conditions as well. My job is to work hard and be prepared for any situation," Vihari signed off.
