Former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer believes Hanuma hasn’t made any mistake to miss out this time in the first Test match against Sri Lanka.
It has been noticed that Vihari has been a tad unlucky and hasn’t got his deserved opportunity. However, as Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane have been dropped from the Test side due to poor form and KL Rahul is missing out due to injury, Vihari should get his chances.
In fact, Vihari has mostly played in foreign conditions as India has hardly needed an extra batter in the favorable conditions. The right-hander had played a gutsy knock of unbeaten 40 runs in the second innings of the second Test match against South Africa recently but he was dropped from the final Test as Virat Kohli made his return to the side.
Vihari has thus far played 13 Test matches in he has scored 684 runs at an average of 34.2. Thus, the right-hander from Andhra Pradesh has done a decent job as he has mostly batted at number six in the batting order and has played in the tough alienate conditions. Vihari had also played a key role in helping the team draw the Sydney Test match along with Ravichandran Ashwin against Australia in 2020-21.
Wasim Jaffer backed Vihari to bat at number three since the position is vacant after Pujara has been dropped.
Wasim Jaffer said while talking to ESPN Cricinfo, “According to me, Rohit and Mayank will open since KL isn’t available for this series. There is a debate between Vihari and Shubman Gill. But I would go with Vihari because after his innings in Sydney he hasn’t got many chances and I don’t think he has made any mistake to miss out this time. So I think he should get the first opportunity. So for me, he is a No. 3.”
On the other hand, Jaffer wants India to play with three fast bowlers – Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj as the Mohali pitch is expected to aid the fast bowlers.
“Because we are playing in India, we can afford to play five bowlers. So for me Jadeja at No. 7, Ashwin at No. 8, followed by Bumrah, Siraj, and Shami. I think Mohali would offer something for the quicks and the reverse swing can be on offer too. ”
The first Test match between India and Sri Lanka will be played in Mohali.
