Hanuma Vihari: 'I play to win, even if batting with one hand or one leg'
"Even if I motivated or inspired a few youngsters, then I would be happy. I feel it was worth it: worth the pain"
On the first day [of the match], we were batting first, [and] Avesh bowled a short-of-a-length delivery. I fended it off with my left arm, [but] when I got hit, immediately I knew that something was wrong because I had never felt that [kind of] pain before whenever I had got hit [in the past]. I wanted to continue, but I couldn't. I couldn't grip the bat.
When we were 262 for 2, our physio Deep Tomar called me to his room. He told me, "I wouldn't advise you to bat because if you get hit again, you might need a surgery". I said, "We are in a good position, so I don't think I would need to bat". But next day (day 2), we collapsed to 324 for 4, and then 350 for 7 or 8 [353 for 9]. Then I went and gripped my bat with my left hand, and I couldn't do it.
I've not even batted left-handed when we played tennis-ball cricket or in the street when I was young. I had never imagined that in a first-class game - that too in a quarter-final - I would be batting left-handed with a single hand.
I just wanted to go out in [on] the field and show that I don't want to just be retired out and not be able to contribute. Even if I got out first ball, it wouldn't matter, but I just wanted to be there on the ground, show our team that I'm there to fight for the team, [and] if I do that, then the rest ten of us will definitely give their best to win the game for the side. So that was the main intention.
Funnily enough, I didn't take my bat because my bat is a bit heavier. I took the lightest bat possible in the dressing room.
Avesh was running in and bowling quick. He tried to bowl a yorker [first ball], which ended up being a low full toss. So I used the pace, and angled the bat. Luckily, it went to the boundary. But one thing in my mind was to just try and play the stump-line ball. And if he bowls a bouncer, then try to duck it, which is difficult batting left-handed. It was difficult batting right-handed itself, which I couldn't do in the initial stages [after getting hit on day one]; but doing it with the left hand, [and] with a single hand [was more difficult].
I was trying to, but when a bowler was running in, then I removed my left hand because I couldn't exert any pressure on it. I thought there was no point.
When I came in at No. 11 [in the first innings], they thought may be I would bat right-handed. But when I took the left-hander's guard, most of them were surprised. "Is he really doing it?", that was the kind of expression on their faces. But all the players and even the umpires were appreciative. At the same time they were quite competitive, and didn't show any sympathy. I wouldn't expect any sympathy [either], as we were playing a quarter-final.
We didn't have enough [runs in the second innings] for a start. We collapsed quite badly in the second innings. So I had to go in to bat. I got the plaster [on the left arm] just after lunch. But after the drinks break post-lunch, we collapsed, losing three or four wickets quickly. So after tea, I knew I had to bat; I had to contribute some runs because we were in a tight situation. I thought going in was a right idea. I tried to put the glove in. I just managed to put the glove in, then I just went in and tried to play some shots.
I took some tablets, but not an injection. I couldn't really sleep. It was hurting. I slept in patches, but when I have pain I had to get up; it was disturbing.
"The basics of batting helped: how to defend the ball, just watching the ball, and trying to meet the ball, which [though] was a challenge"Vihari on how he managed to bat left-handed despite naturally being a right-hander
I was just trying to play the field (chuckles). I was just backing myself to connect a few balls. Actually, I missed quite a few, but luckily enough I connected three balls which went to the boundary. I made up my mind because the offspinner was bowling, and playing right handed is my strength. So I tried to switch [to sweep like a right hander], and play that shot, which went through the gap. The basics of batting helped: how to defend the ball, just watching the ball, and trying to meet the ball, which [though] was a challenge.
If we had ended up winning, I would have still said it was sweet. Although every one of us - the whole Andhra team - gave their best, we collapsed in a session, which is very hurting. But we are proud of the fact that we gave everything for the side. So I wouldn't be disappointed. Even if I motivated or inspired a few youngsters, then I would be happy. I feel it was worth it: worth the pain.
I am definitely proud of the team for making it to the quarters, but I wouldn't say I'm satisfied because we have a goal of winning the Ranji Trophy. So we don't want to restrict or limit ourselves just to the quarter-finals. But next year, we have to make sure we are well prepared, and going all the way and winning the trophy.
I play sport to win - whether I score a century or whether I'm just contributing to the side. Obviously, any batter will want to get those hundreds and get those big runs in the season. But whether I play for India or whether I play for Andhra, I play to win, even if it's just batting with one hand or batting with one leg.
Nagraj Gollapudi is news editor at ESPNcricinfo