Andhra captain Hanuma Vihari batted with a fractured wrist for the second time, hoping to save his team from a collapse in the Ranji Trophy 2023 quarter-finals. The Indian batter is best known for his gutsy knock against Australia in the Sydney Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the 2020/21 season.
Vihari had also batted with a single hand in the first innings and had scored two boundaries. The right-handed batter batted with his top hand and a left-handed grip, contributing to Andhra scoring 379 in the first innings of the match.
Vihari was met with a rousing reception for having the heart to come out and bat for the second time and scored 3 boundaries in his 15-run innings of 16 balls, before getting bowled out to Saransh Jain.
Do it for the team. Do it for the bunch.
Never give up!!
Thank you everyone for your wishes. Means a lot!! pic.twitter.com/sFPbHxKpnZ— Hanuma vihari (@Hanumavihari) February 1, 2023
Andhra set Madhya Pradesh a target of 245 runs in the second innings and had not picked up a single wicket by the end of Day 3. Madhya Pradesh had scored 44 runs with no wickets lost and now requires 201 runs to win on the final day.
Vihari has not played for India since Shreyas Iyer emerged as an aggressive Test batter against spin bowling. Vihari has had a mediocre season as Ranji captain this year, but he will be remembered as a valiant fighter in Indian cricket folklore.
In the meantime, Twitter has been lauding the all-rounder for showing great guts in the all-important match. Many users also recalled how he batted in the Border Gavaskar Trophy played in Australia in 2020-21.
“I salute you Hanuma Vihari,” a user wrote. “If only cricket had a Puskas award. Vihari would have won it,” another user wrote. “A colleague just showed me Hanuma Vihari’s single-handed batting effort (the other arm in a cast, thanks to a fracture) vs MP in Ranji quarters. That took some doing boss. Amazing!” wrote a third
Here is how Twitter reacted to Hanuma Vihari
Need to get more active on Instagram.
A colleague just showed me Hanuma Vihari's single-handed batting effort (the other arm in a cast, thanks to a fracture) vs MP in Ranji quarters.
That took some doing boss. Amazing! ?
— KSR (@KShriniwasRao) February 1, 2023
What Commitment!
Hats Off @Hanumavihari ???
Respect. ??#HanumaVihari https://t.co/rLLdV0zXOR— Atish Badoliya (@Music_Atish) February 3, 2023
If only cricket had a Puskas award. Vihari would have won it. #HanumaVihari #CricketTwitter https://t.co/njTcVBqqIB
— Gnanaprakash Bhoosam Ravi (@prakash1042) February 3, 2023
Brave act indeed. Get well sooon and get back to the national team as soon as possible
— Umakanth (@vichoor) February 3, 2023
@Hanumavihari you earn my respect #RanjiTrophy with broken arm ….
— Sopan Keru Shelar (@sopan_keru) February 3, 2023
Hanuma Vihari played this craziest shot with a broken wrist ?
No one can beat his determination! ?? @Hanumavihari | #RanjiTrophy2023 #HanumaVihari #AndhraPradesh #RanjiTrophy pic.twitter.com/cSuqtcSXKE
— Cric Files (@TheCricfiles) February 3, 2023
I salute you Hanuma Vihari. https://t.co/j49dKJWEHC
— Palash Jha (@palashjha22) February 3, 2023
Hanuma vihari ? https://t.co/5xxegPXpxQ
— Dr.ADESH ? (@doc___Ab) February 3, 2023
Wow that @Hanumavihari ??
Get well soon. https://t.co/Bub9305r0e— Amar (@DesiChumbak) February 3, 2023
Respect @Hanumavihari ???
— ????? (@SachinPvk) February 3, 2023
Tru Fighter ????
— Akshay ? (@Akshayaa_21) February 3, 2023
