Hanuma Vihari Keen To Make Impact In First Home Test After Strong Overseas Showing

Hanuma Vihari had a solid start to his Test career in England. In his first innings, he managed to score a fifty on debut and the application that he displayed in the Oval Test showed that he was comfortable on the international stage. In the series against Australia, Vihari saw out the new ball in the Melbourne Test and ensured India's middle order had a solid platform for a historic 2-1 series win. Against the West Indies, Vihari blasted a fifty and a century in the Jamaica Test and it continued his good run in the Caribbean during the India A series.

Ahead of the first Test against South Africa in Vizag, Vihari is gearing up for his first Test at home and he said he was excited at the prospect of playing in front of his home fans. "First time, I will be playing international in India for India. It is very exciting. That too in Vizag, my home association. I am looking forward to it. Last 15 days, I have been at NCA. I have been preparing well for the South African series," Vihari said on the sidelines of a felicitation function organised for him on by his alma mater St. John's Sports Coaching Foundation.

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Vihari had his formative cricket days moulded by R Sridhar, the fielding coach of the Indian cricket team. The right-hander heaped praise on Sridhar for his contributions to the side and also for improving the standards. 

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"Obviously, it was very fitting that Sridhar sir was there in the dressing room when I got my first hundred. I can only imagine how emotional he was and it was a special day. Obviously, he was there throughout, starting of my career to till now, he was always there. As I said, it is very fitting that he was there in the dressing room," Vihari said. India will play three Tests against South Africa and this will be part of the ICC World Test Championship. The first match will take place in Vizag on October 2, followed by matches in Pune and Ranchi. 

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