Hanuma Vihari juggles Covid-19 relief work and preparations for WTC Final during county stint

Hanuma Vihari makes sure that he always stays by his phone after coming back from practice and match day in Birmingham. He has been receiving plenty of requests from friends and family of Covid-19 patients back in India, seeking help for medical resources.

One fine day, after coming back to his room from a match for Warwickshire in the ongoing County Championships, Vihari thought he should use his social media presence to help the needy during the Covid-19 crisis back in India. Vihari formed a group of close to 100 volunteers who operate on WhatsApp, attending to requests from patients. Notably, India has been battling a severe second wave of Covid-19 with medical resources stretching to the limits.

Speaking to Sports Today on Saturday, Hanuma Vihari shed light on what led to the creation of the volunteer group which he leads from the UK to help fight the Covid-19 crisis back in India.

“I thought I have to use the followers on my social media in the best way I can. It started slowly. I tried to interact with people. I realised a lot of people are in need of a lot of things,” Vihari told India Today Consulting Editor, Sports, Boria Majumdar.

“I put a post on Instagram. I am very fortunate that most of my followers joined me. We are close to 100 people in our WhatsApp group. We try to solve every problem of the patients, if we can’t solve it in our group, I post it on social media,” he added.

Hanuma Vihari’s phone is buzzing but the India cricketer is making sure he is maintaining a fine balance between relief work and preparing for his County Championship matches. Vihari has played 3 matches for Warwickshire and has hit a fifty as well as he prepares for the England tour in English conditions.

Try to balance the work: Vihari

Vihari had left for England during IPL 2021 and he has been named in the 20-member India squad for the England tour. The World No. 1 Test team will play the World Test Championship final in June and a 5-Test series against England in August-September.

“I try to balance the work. When I am at home, I am totally committed to the work. Once I enter the field, I know the job in hand and what I have to focus on. I am trying to prepare in the best way possible for the WTC Final and the England series,” he added.

Vihari conceded that taking on New Zealand in English conditions will be challenging but stressed India will be a confident bunch as they head into the World Test Championship final. Notably, Kane Williamson’s men will have a slender advantage as they play two Tests in England in June before the much-anticipated WTC Final.

“It’s going to be interesting and exciting as well for all the Indian fans because it’s the first edition of the WTC. We are in the finals and we are playing New Zealand which is going to be challenging in this condition, we all know that but the Indian team can do outstanding things.

“I am sure that we’ll be confident going into the WTC final. I am trying to prepare as best as I can for the WTC and the Test series after that,” he added.