HANUMA VIHARI was baptised by fire upon joining the Indian Test team. He debuted last year against James Anderson and Stuart Broad in cold England and next faced the lethal Mitchell Starc and co in Australia. He played well under pressure, but a flashier Rishabh Pant—who was also debuting in the England series—hogged the limelight. Months later, under the warm Caribbean sun, Vihari, 25, came to the party. He scored 289 runs in two Tests, including his maiden Test century (111), and powered India to a series victory against the West Indies.
Days after the feat, Vihari was back home in Kowkoor, on the outskirts of Hyderabad, where THE WEEK caught up with him. Though visibly tired, the batting all-rounder ensured that he did not miss the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in his colony. He was part of the procession, took selfies with the children and asked them what they thought of his century. He was a regular youngster in the crowd, unaffected by the sudden fame.
Back home, clad in a T-shirt and track pants, he said he was yet to unpack. He then glanced at a huge suitcase that was partially open and had clothes spilling out. He had some extra luggage this time—a gift from his captain, Virat Kohli.
“After my hundred, he was generous enough to give me a bat he had signed,” Vihari told THE WEEK. “That is a big compliment from a legend. It feels good to be recognised for my performance this way. I was disappointed after I got out for 93 in the first match. In the second match, the situation was tricky as there were a couple of good spells. The bounce was different as compared with the ones (pitches) I had played on in the past. I adapted to the situation and played certain shots that were in my area.”
The century was huge for him, but he had hardly “ten minutes” to celebrate in the dressing room. “We had to get back on the field,” he said. “But I was happy with all the congratulations that came my way in that time.”
Vihari was born in Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh and started playing cricket when he was nine. His mother Vijayalaxmi, a passionate cricket fan, named him Vihari after a character in the Telugu novel Aakhari Poratam, which was later made into a movie starring Nagarjuna. Vihari had lost his father in his teens and money had been in short supply. It was his mother’s support that helped him get to the Indian team. She even agreed to let him drop out of college to focus on cricket.
Though he had a tough childhood, Vihari said he does not believe in low-points. “You have to keep improving,” he said. “There can only be high points in life.”
Vihari represents Hyderabad in domestic cricket and had played six Tests for India. And though he has done well so far, his fledgling career might face a challenge or two from the rising crop of talent in India. “The only challenge is up to me, how I take it,” he said. “There will be occasions where the team combination might change. Whenever you get an opportunity, you have to do your best for the team. I might [even] play up the order, [and] I have to be aware and accept those situations and keep moving forward.”
Vihari believes in giving his best in the moment and not worrying about the future. Whether it is Indian Premier League or ODIs, Vihari said it was all about the mindset. He said he had come a long way and it would not be tough for him to adjust to any format. There is a calmness and maturity in his batting, which seems to be mirrored in his life off the field. “I try to keep limited people in my life,” he said. “I like to have a small circle, but at the same time I have a lot of fun outside the field. It can be a good conversation with people around me. I feel that whether it is on field or off it, we react according to situations.”
Like most of his teammates, he, too, is a great fan of Sachin Tendulkar. “He is the reason I started playing cricket,” said Vihari. “I also like others who play well. I observe and take whatever positives I can from Indian and foreign players.”
He also holds Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri in high regard. “He (Kohli) is passionate about the game and treats everyone equally,” said Vihari. “That is the kind of character you need as a captain. We are happy playing under him [and have] made huge progress. He has got an amazing work ethic, especially when it comes to his fitness and diet. He is disciplined and that is why he has grown a lot as a cricketer in the past 10 to 12 years.”
Of Shastri, he said, “He gives valuable inputs. He told me something that improved my game. There was a small adjustment that I [made] and instantly saw the results. It was related to flexing my knees and keeping my head straight while playing. These are the tips that enhance a player.”
Though he said he had a good time in the Caribbean, he admits to not being a beach person. “I am scared of water and I cannot swim,” he said. His favourite destinations, he said, were New Zealand and Australia, for the picturesque locations and solitude.
The Game of Thrones fan binge-watches shows during his free time and also reads. “I like to read autobiographies. I want to read the Mahabharat and the Gita in future,” he said. He also meditates when he is nervous or before a big game. “More than a good cricketer, I want to be known as a humble person,” he said. “I want to be the best version of myself.”
Vihari, who got married to fashion designer Preeti Raj earlier this year, has plans to get into social service. For now, however, he is excited about the possibility of playing South Africa at his home ground in Visakhapatnam next month.