India vs Sri Lanka: My preferred position is No. 3, says Hanuma Vihari after fifty in Mohali

India vs Sri Lanka: Hanuma Vihari hit a 58 in his first innings while batting at No. 3 for India in the first Test against the visiting Sri Lankan team n Friday in Mohali.

Hanuma Vihari on Friday said he is open to contributing to the team in whichever way possible but the 28-year-old said he prefers batting at No. 3. Vihari hit a fifty in his first match while batting at No. 3 as he replaced Cheteshwar Pujara fr the first Test between India and Sri Lanka in Mohali.

Vihari looked solid as he hit 58 from 128 balls, stitching a crucial 90-run stand with Virat Kohli in the latter's 100th Test. It was only Vihari's 2nd innings in a Test match at home but the Hyderabad batter grabbed the opportunity to bat at No. 3 with both hands.

Viharii had warmed up to the series opener against Sri Lanka with a hundred and fifty for Hyderabad against Chandigarh in their Ranji Trophy 2022 match last month.

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"Felt good going out in the middle. I was batting well, and I had a good preparation. Great opportunity batting at number three for India. I am happy to bat wherever the team wants me to, but my most preferred position is number three, I have done it in first-class cricket," Vihari said.

"I thought initially the ball was coming onto the bat well. But once the ball went old, it was difficult to time the ball well."

There was a 2-way battle for the No. 3 spot as Vihari and Shubman Gill were touted to replace Pujara, who was dropped from the Test squad for the Sri Lanka series. However, Vihari got the nod to bat at No. 3 while Shreyas Iyer played at No. 5 after Ajinkya Rahane was also axed.