"Once You Are Dropped...": Star India Batter On 'Tough' Task Of Making National Team Comeback

05.07.2023 - 15:15 sports.ndtv.com

Middle-order batter Hanuma Vihari on Tuesday accepted that making a return to the Indian team is tough, and getting dropped at times could affect a player's mindset.

Vihari has been out of the Indian team since appearing against England at Birmingham in last July. "Once you are dropped or left aside from the Indian team, it is tough to make a comeback.

It affects your mindset. I went through that last season," said Vihari ahead of South Zone's Duleep Trophy semifinal match against North Zone, starting in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

However, hopes have not faded for him. Vihari drew inspiration from Ajinkya Rahane, who recently made a comeback to the Indian side. "You will want to come back until you retire.

cricket India Cricket Team West Indies Cricket Team comeback on Star India Ajinkya Rahane Cheteshwar Pujara Hanuma Vihari India

Team India is enjoying its dominance over West Indies in the ongoing two-match Test series. The Rohit Sharma-led side began its 2023-25 World Test Championship cycle on a winning note after thrashing the hosts by an innings and 141 runs in the first game in Dominica. In the first innings of the second Test, India posted a whopping total of 438. While the likes of Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal have shone in the series so far, it has been a poor outing for Ajinkya Rahane, who scored 3 runs in his only innings in the first Test and followed it with another poor knock of 8 runs.

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