Hanuma Vihari not in touch with Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma since playing last Test: 'Have no expectations'

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Hanuma Vihari last played for India in July 2022, and hasn't been contacted by head coach Rahul Dravid, captain Rohit Sharma and the selectors since then.

Vihari, who played one of the greatest match-saving knocks by an Indian player in Test cricket, has been in exile despite India looking out for solid middle-order batters in the absence of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane.

Vihari scored 23 unbeaten runs off 161 deliveries to draw the epic Test match in Sydney in 2021. In his 16-match Test career, the Andhra batter has scored 839 runs at an average of 33.56. He has one hundred and five Test fifties to his name.

"No one has spoken to me recently, but Rahul Dravid did speak to me after my last Test, and he told me what I can improve on, but no, I haven't been in touch with anyone since then," Vihari told ESPNcricinfo in an interview.

Hanuma Vihari is eying a Test comeback by capping off the Ranji Trophy season on a strong note. Vihari's rich vein of form has contributed to Andhra Pradesh's run in the Elite Group B. Andhra currently sits in second spot with three wins in five games.

The 30-year-old batter has helped his team, scoring 365 runs in seven innings, and sits behind only skipper Ricky Bhui's tally of 550 runs for the team. His recent scores have allowed him to keep his average in domestic cricket above 50. Vihari has found it hard to make a spot for himself in India's playing XI but he is keen to leave his mark in domestic cricket and extend his 16 Test appearances.

"I do feel sad and disappointed that I am not in the Test team, but everyone goes through ups and downs, and my job now is to score runs in the Ranji Trophy. The season has gone all right, both for the team and for me. So the ambition is to score a lot of runs and try to return to the Test team," Vihari told ESPNcricinfo after Andhra beat Bihar by an innings and 157 runs.

"But I only think about improving my game and enjoying it. If I don't do that, there is no purpose left. When I go into the middle, I just want to do my best for the team and score runs. I am at a stage [in my career] where I have no expectations. I give my best each time I bat and then whatever happens will happen," Vihari added.

Andhra Pradesh will now face Uttar Pradesh on February 9 at the PVG Raju ACA Sports Complex.