'We Had To Bat Out Time': Hanuma Vihari Opens Up After India's Series Win Over Australia

India batsman Hanuma Vihari, who played a crucial role in helping the team secure an epic draw alongside Ravichandran Ashwin against Australia in Sydney, has revealed that they didn't try to go fo

"If you look at the first session and most part of the second session, we were looking good for a win. The way Rishabh (Pant) and (Cheteshwar) Pujara played. To be honest, once they got out, I don't think a win was a possibility. Even before my injury, Ash (R Ashwin) was struggling with his back, (Ravindra) Jadeja could have played only a few overs if needed," Vihari said while speaking to ESPNcricinfo.

"The draw came in when we knew that Ash couldn't run, and then when my hamstring injury happened, we knew we just had to bat out time. And it is not an easy task (for one partnership) to bat out 43 overs. Australia, day five, against that attack," he added.

Vihari further revealed that, he and Ashwin, both decided to bat one over at a time.

"We had a conversation every over about what we needed to do. The strategy also helped. We got messages from outside but we had already decided that he was going to face (Nathan) Lyon and I would face the fast bowlers. One he was batting well against Lyon and also I couldn't stretch against the spinner with my hamstring," said the right-handed batsman.

"It panned out well. He was facing Lyon with ease on a day-five pitch, and I was pretty comfortable against the fast bowlers," he added.

The draw in Sydney set the platform for a memorable win in Brisbane, which sealed what was considered a near-impossible series victory against Australia in Australia.

Vihari further revealed that the team never spoke about the first Test result, in which they were bowled out for a mere 36 - India's lowest total in Test cricket.