Hanuma Vihari's gutsy 40* pushed India to 266 in the second innings on a challenging surface ©Getty
"Hanuma Vihari 40 not-out," was the audible part of the announcement from the Wanderers P.A system on the broadcast as India's second innings came to an end. A ripple of applause. Virat Kohli clapped Vihari into the dressing room, the latter's vigil with the tail having just given India a competitive target to bowl at in the final innings. There was no other fanfare, at least not publicly. 40-not-outs get about that much.
The 13-Test-old Vihari knows not to expect anything more. In many ways his 40* on an enthralling day of many highlights also served as a metaphor for his position right now - contextually very promising yet also simultaneously deflating. Vihari's was the third-highest score in India's second innings score of 266 on a challenging surface. The two fifties were made by Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara, one of whom he could have replaced at any time in the last year.
It was in-keeping with the ballad of Vihari: a player of fine footwork but yet caught out in an awkward position: stuck somewhere between the past and the future of India's middle-order. At 28 years of age, that should make him the present. Yet it was only Vihari's first Test in a year since he batted on one leg to save the Sydney Test. You wouldn't know if you watched him get into position to defend Kagiso Rabada on that surface with time to spare.
Vihari arrived at the Wanderers, a year older and a year wiser to the adage that good things do not come in a hurry. He has been around the Indian Test team for four years now and yet he's watched more Test cricket than he's played, carried more drinks while being thirsty for a breakthrough himself. Along the way he's graduated from a new entrant into an awkward inbetweener, neither a super senior with a body of work to keep him afloat nor a youngster with promise enough to merit a long rope.
He is, however, experienced enough to understand the caprice of selection and conditions. India have seen him as something of an overseas expert. Only 1 of his 13 Tests have come at home,
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