08 January,2022 07:37 AM IST | Johannesburg | PTI
Hanuma Vihari and Shreyas Iyer. Pics/AFP, PTI
Rahul Dravid never believed in "rocking the boat" and is certainly not going to change his template of giving the longest rope possible to Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane even if Hanuma Vihari's wait for regular chances gets longer.
Vihari, Indian cricket's âTough Runs Man' has never had it easy in terms of chances as he has played only one of his 13 Tests at home and it was skipper Virat Kohli's back spasms and Shreyas Iyer's stomach bug that opened the door for another chance.
The Hyderabad man did his bit in the second innings with an unbeaten 40 in India's target of 240 for the Proteas.
Dravid was effusive in his praise for Vihari: "Firstly, I must say Vihari played really in both innings. In first innings he got a nasty one and unfortunately for him, it popped up and fielder just got his finger tips to it and really got a good catch, he batted beautifully in the second innings and that gives us confidence you know."
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He also took the opportunity to praise Shreyas Iyer, another strong middle-order contender. "Shreyas obviously done that two or three Test matches ago and he has obviously done that and they have just got to take heart from the fact that whenever they are getting opportunities, they are doing well and hopefully their time would come."
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