Centurion Hanuma Vihari Dedicates Maiden Test Century To His Late Father

My dad passed away when I was 12. So, I had decided when I get my first international century, I want to dedicate it to him. Today is an emotional day and I hope he’s proud.”

India's middle order batsman Hanuma Vihari brought up his first major milestone in international cricket by scoring his maiden Test century on the second day against the West Indies at Kingston in Jamaica on Saturday. It was Vihari's ton that laid the foundation for India piling up a monumental 416-run total in their first innings, before Jasprit Bumrah devastated the Windies with a lethal spell of seam bowling that included a hat-trick. The middle-order batsman admitted that he got a little emotional after reaching his century. “When I was batting overnight on 42, I didn’t sleep well. All I was thinking about was how to get a big score. Happy that I got a century and credit should go to Ishant. He looked more like a batsman today than me. The way he was going, we kept discussing what the bowler was doing and his experience really helped,” Vihari said on Saturday (August 31). “Really happy that I was able to get my first ton. At lunch I was on 84, and it took me a while to get to a hundred. Credit to the bowler, they were bowling really well. It was challenging and I am really happy. My dad passed away when I was 12. So, I had decided when I get my first international century, I want to dedicate it to him. Today is an emotional day and I hope he’s proud.” Vihari, who has played all his six Tests away from home, has scored an impressive 403 runs at an average of over 40. He missed out a century in the last game but insisted on being patience at Kingston. “It’s been challenging because all my Tests have been away. I am the sort of person who relishes challenges. Playing away is a tough challenge and I want to do it for my team. I am happy that I am going in the right direction,” he said. “I knew they will come hard in the first session because that was their best chance to get us out. They did get an early wicket, but I just wanted to bat patiently.”