Mumbai: India’s Test specialist Hanuma Vihari, who is a part of the squad that has been selected for the World Test Championship final and the subsequent England series, admitted that going into the World Test Championship (WTC) final will be tricky but he is trying to prepare in the best way possible for the WTC Final.
“I am trying to prepare in the best way possible for the WTC Final and the England series. It’s going to be interesting and exciting as well for all the Indian fans because it’s the first edition of the WTC. We are in the finals and we are playing New Zealand which is going to be challenging in this condition,” Vihari was quoted as saying to India Today.
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Virat Kohli’s side, this year have won Test series against Australia and England both. Team India last week retained the number one ranking in the format. Vihari believes that this Indian side is capable of doing ‘outstanding things’ and sounded confident of India’s chances in WTC Final this year. “We all know that but the Indian team can do outstanding things. I am sure that we’ll be confident going into the WTC final. I am trying to prepare as best as I can for the WTC and the Test.”
Vihari will be making a comeback to the Test squad after missing out in the England series due to an injury. He picked up the injury during his epic knock in the third Test against Australia in earlier this year, where he batted with an injured hamstring to save the Test match for India. Vihari might not be in the best of form, but that is not the case with India in the longest format. Vihari’s recent run in domestic and county cricket has not been a fruitful one. Vihari has since played seven matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Andhra where a knock of 65 was his only double-digit score. Later, he played three County games for Warwickshire. But he is still eager to put up a solid show in upcoming series. For Vihari, who only plays Test matches for India, this is a lifetime opportunity.
The World Test Championship Final will commence on June 18 at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. Meanwhile, the last time India and New Zealand faced each other in an ICC event, was the semi-final of the 2019 World Cup, which New Zealand won by 18 runs.
