Hanuma Vihari on Friday said he won't mind taking up the opener's role if the team management asks after India's inexperienced opening options were technically exposed by a second-string New Zealand attack on the opening day of the warm-up game here.
Coming in at no.6, Vihari scored a hundred but Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw and Shubman Gill were dismissed early, undone by the extra bounce and seam movement during the match against New Zealand XI.
The trio's performance raised doubts about its ability to face the likes of Neil Wagner, Trent Boult and Matt Henry.
"As a player, I am prepared to bat anywhere. As of now, I've not been informed anything. As I said before as well, if the team requires me to bat wherever, I am ready to bat," said Vihari, who retired after scoring 101.
The Andhra player has delivered whenever given a chance. Does he feel bad about not getting to play four successive Tests after the series-opener against South Africa at Visakhapatnam last year in October?
So what was the advice from his senior partner Pujara?
"Pujara told me to leave more balls on this wicket, get my eye in and it will make my job easier. I listened to him and it paid off."