3rd Test: 'Hanuma Vihari's knock is equal to a century,' says R Ashwin

Offie R Ashwin lauds his injured batting partner's gritty, unbeaten 23 off 161 balls knock after their match-saving partnership helps India draw third Test

Ravichandran Ashwin on Monday equated Hanuma Vihari’s unbeaten 23 off 161 balls in a match-saving stand of 62 runs with him in the third Test against Australia here to scoring a hundred.

Ashwin, who made 39 off 128 balls, and Vihari pulled off a remarkable draw for India on day five of the third Test against Australia. Vihari pulled his hamstring at the start of his innings and was struggling to run between the wickets.

‘Difficult to go for a win’

“After Pujara and Pant’s wicket and with Vihari injured, it was going to be difficult to go for a win. Touring Australia is never easy so Vihari can be proud of himself. It was a knock equal to scoring a hundred,” Ashwin told Channel 7. Ashwin said the confidence gained from productive net sessions helped him finally come good against Australia as he and Vihari saved the third Test.

“I have been batting well in the nets, so it was great to spend some time in the middle. Chasing 400 in Sydney was never going to be easy, as the ball was going up and down. That knock by Pant set us up,” he said.

Ashwin, who did not score big in his previous four innings, said he also took confidence from his batting record at the SCG. “I was just telling the batting coach [Vikram Rathore] during the lunch break that I have never left the SCG without a fifty, this is a venue where I have done well with the bat and today’s innings is right up there.” The premier off-spinner said facing the formidable pacer trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood on Day Five was a tough job.

Praise from Rahane

Skipper Ajinkya Rahane also lauded the Andhra batsman. “To show that kind of motivation, hunger and hang in there for your team, that’s what shows the character of an individual. It’s all about what the team wants and credit to him. There was pressure and the way he batted was special,” said Rahane.

Hanuma out of 4th Test

Meanwhile, India’s injury woes compounded after Vihari was ruled out of the fourth and final match with a hamstring tear that could keep him out of action for a considerable time.

It is learnt that Vihari was taken for scans after the match got over and the reports are expected by late evening in Sydney. However, a BCCI source confirmed to PTI that Vihari is unlikely to be fit in time for the fourth Test. In another development, Shardul Thakur, with way more first-class experience compared to rookie T Natarajan, is likely to replace injured Ravindra Jadeja in Brisbane.

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