Hanuma Vihari Set To Play County Cricket For Warwickshire Before WTC Finals

Indian middle-order batsman Hanuma Vihari is all set to play county cricket for Warwickshire this season as a preparation for World Test Championship Final and England tour. 

According to reports, Vihari has already left for England and will play a minimum of three games this season which starts from 8th April. 

"Yes, Vihari will be playing in the English county side for Warwickshire this season. He would play a few games. He is in England now," said a senior BCCI official on Tuesday.

"The contract is being chalked out. He will play a minimum of three games. We are trying to figure out if there is a chance to play a few more," the official added. 

The right-handed batsman last played for India in the famous Sydney test match where Vihari along with R Ashwin survived a full session on day 5 to draw the game. He was struggling with a hamstring injury during his 23 not out knock and was sent to NCA for rehab after the series. 

Vihari, after recovering, led Andhra Pradesh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2021 but could only score one fifty in six innings. 

With WTC Finals scheduled just after the end of the IPL 2021, Vihari will have to be match-ready since he isn't a part of any franchise this season. 

"With a curtailed domestic season this time and Vihari being a part of the Test side, he needs match practice," the official said. 

"All his other Test colleagues are part of IPL teams, including Cheteshwar (Pujara). Even if it's white-ball games, they will be fit and match-ready. However, we need to ensure that Vihari also gets game time before the England tour. It's not just one World Test Championship final, but the full-fledged five-Test series that follows. We need him ready," he added.

Before Vihari, his test teammates Ishant Sharma, R Ashwin, Axar Patel have all played a county season recently and have benefitted from that experience.