'Rare exhibition of courage and dedication' - Rival coach lauds Vihari

Hanuma Vihari has been earning all-round praise over the last few days for his on-field courage in a Ranji Trophy game, and one of his new-found admirers is the coach of the team against whom he exhibited heroism of playing with a broken wrist.

"That is a rare exhibition of courage and dedication," said Chandrakant Pandit, the coach of Madhya Pradesh team, lauding the fighting spirit of Vihari. The defending champions went to post a come-from-behind victory in the quarterfinals in Indore but the star of the game - or rather the tragic hero of the match - was Vihari, the captain of the vanquished Andhra team. A right-handed batter, Vihar batted left-handed with his left hand cast in bandage.

"These kinds of acts for your side and rising to the demands of the team's situation are unforgettable and hats off to Hanuma. He is a role model for the youngsters in our country," Pandit (61), a veteran of the Indian domestic circuit, told Cricbuzz in a conversation after the match on Friday (February 3).

Pandit personally congratulated Vihari (29), who was similarly heroic for India during a Test in Sydney when his valiant effort with a hamstring injury ensured a draw in the 2021 series that India went on to win. "I did not mince any words to him and congratulated him on his brave display of courage and said 'hats off to you'. I really admire him now," Pandit said.

Vihari, who bats at No 3, took a blow on his left wrist while batting on 16 in the first innings. He left the field and scans showed a fracture. He would have to be out of action for over a month. But quite heroically, Vihari came out to bat at No. 11, and added 26 runs for the 10th wicket with his individual score swelling up to 27 in the first innings. In the second dig again, he batted again at No. 11 and scored 15 adding 17 runs to the team's total. The effort, though, was not enough for Andhra who, despite taking a huge first innings lead, lost the game.

"What I feel is immaterial but what I want to tell you is what I have told my players in the Madhya Pradesh dressing room. I have asked them to raise their hats off to the guy. The way he has shown commitment for the side is second to none. That dedication he has displayed is something everyone should learn and practise," Pandit said in admiration.

Pandit has seen a few such brave gestures in his career as a player and coach, including from Sunil Gavaskar and Dilip Vengsarkar, but said the Vihari effort stood out for him. "I mentioned to my boys that Gaurav Yadav bowled with a swollen knee (in the same match). Gaurav did a similar act in the final of the Ranji Trophy last year too when he had a head injury. I remember Sunil Gavaskar batting for the Mumbai side left-handed against Karnataka in a Ranji game on a rank turner.

"I can also recall Dilip Vengsarkar playing with an injured chest. He had many bruises on his chest and still went on to play in a Ranji game. I myself played once against Rajasthan with a fractured finger. Those days physios were not instantly available for us. I have seen Malcolm Marshall bat with an injured hand on TV against England and in the same way I remember Anil Kumble doing that against the West Indies with his jaw in bandage," Pandit recalled.

He added, "That said, for me the Hanuma show stands out among all other instances I have mentioned. Just think of him batting left-handed with one hand broken and facing the pace of Avesh Khan. He was ready to risk another injury to his second hand but kept the team's interest above him. Outstanding."

The MP coach went on to heap more praise. "What commitment was that! He could not hold his bat, with one hand fractured and in spite of that he came out to face our bowlers. Adding those 15-16 runs in each innings are of high standard of fighting spirit and never-say-die approach. I have not seen too many instances of such displays of courage in my career. That was ultimate."