Hanuma Vihari surprised everyone when he came out to bat for his state Andhra Pradesh in the ongoing Ranji Trophy quarter-finals against Madhya Pradesh. Vihari wasn’t supposed to be in the dressing room, let alone the field, after he fractured his wrist on Day 1. 

Yet he couldn’t resist going out when his team was on the verge of a collapse, and since his fractured wrist made it impossible for him to bat in his natural stance, he carried on as a left-handed batter. Vihari stepped out when Andhra lost their ninth wicket for 353, and have already added 26 runs with Lalith Mohan, who is currently batting on 22. 

Vihari is being praised by many, including Dinesh Karthik, for his valiant act. “Hanuma Vihari Batting LEFT handed and also more importantly just with one hand , the top hand Bravery to another level,” tweeted Karthik.

Vihari copped a heavy blow on his wrist after he missed nudging a rising delivery from Avesh Khan on Day 1. The scan revealed a hairline fracture on his left wrist. Vihari has fallen out of favour with the Indian team, and is working hard in the domestic circuit to force his way back. 

As India prepare for the Australian Challenge in the Border Gavaskar Trophy, Shreyas Iyer is given priority for his astute game against spinners. Vihari played one of the most memorable knocks in recent history, batting alongside R Ashwin and copping enduring sharp blows all over his body to salvage a draw for India in the Sydney Test.

Andhra Pradesh, meanwhile, is on the top in this game, thanks to a sedate hundred from Ricky Bhui. He forged a mammoth partnership with Kirdant Karan Sinde to lift Andhra from 58/2 to 323/3. As far as Madhya Pradesh bowling is concerned, Avesh Khan has struggled to get his line and length right, leaking well over three runs. Anubhav Agarwal has claimed four wickets, while Kumar Kartikeya has bowled a very frugal spell.