IPL-6 Reputation won’t count: Vihari
Hanuma Vihari has gone from being a member of the U-19 World Cup-winning team (2012) in Australia to a man with a reputation of finishing of games for new entrants Sunrisers Hyderabad.
If his dismissal of Chris Gayle off his very first ball of that game was the turning point against Royal Challengers, his calm and composed 46 off 39 balls against the Kings XI Punjab showcased his temperament under pressure.
In an exclusive to this paper, the all-rounder from Hyderabad threw light on his experience so far this season in the Eagles’ colours. On playing alongside big international players: It is good playing together with some big players like Sangakkara, White and Steyn. I take experience from them. I try to learn lot form them. They don’t speak much about the technical aspect of the game but they just remind me to express myself on the field and not to try and emulate
anyone. On dismissing Gayle: Getting him out was very important and that was the plan, me bowling the second over to him. Taking his wicket was very special. It is one of my best moments. On adapting to different batting positions: It is a challenge whichever slot I go in. Up the order or down. I need to take up that and try to contribute to the team as much as possible. On facing Dale Steyn in the nets: He is really consistent and along with his pace he has a good out swinger going on. He bowls in good areas most times. On coping with the pressure of finishing games: I don’t think much about reputation because whatever that was before and now is the same with me. On his two match winning performances: I think both innings were special because against Bangalore we were losing wickets and I had to score runs as well. In the Punjab game I had the liberty of expressing myself more. On him bowling only during the powerplay: Bowling one over in the powerplay is the plan. We have two quality fast bowlers and if I can push one over in that stage, it will give us some attacking options through out the 20 overs especially at the end.