Hanuma Vihari set for county stint with Warwickshire

HANUMA VIHARI may have missed the IPL bus, but India's Test specialist is all set for a county stint at Warwickshire.

The right-handed batsman in order to prepare for the upcoming six-Test season is believed to have left for the UK and would be featuring in at least three games for Warwickshire.

"Yes, Vihari will be playing in the English county side for Warwickshire this season. He would play a few games. He is already in England now," a senior BCCI official told PTI on Tuesday (6).

The Warwickshire county is yet to make the announcement but BCCI officials say the formalities are being worked out.

"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," an official said.

He last played in the IPL in 2019 for Delhi Capitals and since then has gone unsold at the auctions.

The 27-year-old has played 12 Tests for India, scored a hundred and four fifties.

Vihari last played for India in the famous drawn Sydney Test against Australia in 2020. With a torn hamstring, he along with Ravichandran Ashwin put up a four-hour vigil to save the Test match for India.

After recovery, his return at the domestic one-day tournament, Vijay Hazare Trophy, was not that impressive where he scored only one half-century.

The Indian cricket board (BCCI) has had always encouraged players to play in county cricket. In recent years, players like Ishant Sharma, Ashwin and Axar Patel have benefited from their respective stints as county cricketers.

India captain Virat Kohli had signed up with Surrey to play county cricket in 2018, but had to give it a miss due to an injury.