3 players who need to be fast-tracked into the Indian squad

3. Hanuma Vihari

Vihari has been consistent for India A

Hanuma Vihari is a middle-order batsman who plays for Andhra Pradesh in the Indian domestic circuit. He was a solid presence in their middle order and scored 752 runs in 10 innings, at an average of 94 in the 2017-18 Ranji Trophy.

Vihari has a knack of playing long innings and he scored a 150 and a triple hundred in the first few games of the Ranji season. He has been ever-present in the India A side and has proved his worth on more than a couple of occasions.

In the 2nd Test against West Indies A, he scored a crucial 68 to help India A achieve a target 321 in the fourth innings at Taunton. In the current series against South Africa, Vihari came up with a defining knock of 148 with the team in trouble. Throughout his career, Vihari has shown a penchant for coming up with extraordinary performances when the chips are down.

Having ticked the mental toughness box, Vihari also boasts of a solid technique, which would hold him in good stead in England.

With age and form on his side, Vihari can become India’s long term option in the middle order. Rahane hasn’t covered himself in glory in the last few Tests and looks a man bereft of confidence.

Hence, the most viable option for the Indian selectors would be to give Vihari his due and let him have a well-deserved crack at international cricket.