Warwickshire sign India batsman Vihari for LV= Insurance County Championship fixtures

Warwickshire County Cricket Club have signed India Test batsman Hanuma Vihari for the early rounds of the LV= Insurance County Championship.

Acting as cover for Pieter Malan, 27-year-old Vihari made his Test debut against England in 2018 and he has played 12 Tests to date, including three matches in the recent series victory away to Australia and a career best score of 111 versus West Indies in 2019.

In the First Class game, Vihari has made 7,094 runs in 90 games, boasting an impressive average of 56.75, whilst his off spin has also contributed 27 wickets.

“Hanuma will arrive in the UK this afternoon,” said Warwickshire’s Director of Cricket Paul Farbrace, “We hope that this gives time for him to do his six days quarantine and to feature in next week’s game versus Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, subject to receiving negative COVID tests.

“He’s a high-quality batsman, and an effective off spinner, who has been part of two India Test series victories in Australia. But he also comes to Warwickshire with an outstanding record in the First Class game and our young batsman are going to learn a huge amount from playing and training with someone of Hanuma’s calibre.

Paul Farbrace

“We’re also very grateful to Hanuma for stepping in at such short notice to cover Pieter Malan whilst we await confirmation of visa and his safe entry to the UK from South Africa.”

Vihari said: “I’m looking forward to this opportunity and to play for a big club like Warwickshire is really exciting.”