Will not judge Hanuma if he fails as opener, says Prasad
MELBOURNE: Hanuma Vihari’s role as an opener is a stop-gap one and he will be given enough opportunities in his preferred middle-order spot should he fail at the top, assured chairman of selectors MSK Prasad.
Vihari along with debutant Mayank Agarwal could open the innings in the Boxing Day Test against Australia after the team management finally lost patience with the out-of-form duo of KL Rahul and Murali Vijay.
Asked if the new role is unfair on Vihari, who has only played two Tests so far, and doesn’t regularly open in domestic firstclass cricket, Prasad said:”he would be given a fair chance in the middle order should he fail to make an impression as an opener in the next two Tests.”
Having watched Vihari closely when he played domestic cricket for Andhra, Prasad feels he has the game to face the new kookaburra.
“It’s fine. Technically, we feel Vihari is well-equipped. There were times where Cheteshwar Pujara also opened when the team required. The team demands it and definitely I hope he will come out successful. Definitely it is not a long-term solution, I can tell you that,” Prasad assured.
Vihari opening the innings at the MCG is a sort of deja vu for Prasad, who was given the same role during the disastrous 1999 series where he found Brett Lee’s pace too hot to handle.
Prasad feels that Vihari should see this chance as an opportunity.
“I always feel it (opening against Australia in 1999) was an opportunity given to me which I didn’t really live up to. We think Vihari is well-equipped to do so (than Rohit Sharma). We are convinced with his technique and definitely he is a long-term prospect for Indian Test cricket.”