Cheteshwar Pujara’s exclusion from the squad has certainly put the No.3 position under the spotlight in Team India’s batting order in Test cricket.

The team management had promoted Hanuma Vihari to the crucial slot for the Mohali Test versus Sri Lanka, which was also India’s first game without both their longest format specialists Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane.

The 28-year-old Vihari, who usually bats in the middle order and has also had decent success at the international stage batting at No.6, did a fair job.

In Mohali, batting at No.3 for the first time in what was only his second Test at home, Vihari looked solid and compact on way to scoring 58.

Luckily, he didn’t really have to deal with a pressure situation, which could have been the case had India lost one of their two openers early. That said, Vihari does deserve some accolades in his attempt to fill in the shoes of a player who averages almost 44 from 95 Tests.

Importantly, Vihari had put a price on his wicket, just like he did in Sydney last year to help India carve out a draw against Australia with Ravichandran Ashwin at the other end. In Mohali, the only false shot he played after 163 minutes at the crease was the one to bring about his dismissal.

Of the 14 Tests he has played so far, Vihari has also opened on one occasion, back in December 2018 when India took on Australia in Melbourne. He didn’t get many runs as a makeshift opener in that game, scoring eight and 13 in both innings. However, it was his 66-ball vigil in the first innings that had made the task easier for the likes of Pujara and Virat Kohli to help India get to 443/7 declared and eventually win that Boxing Day Test.

Even Kohli had lauded Vihari’s effort and as an opener in that Test match. So batting at the top order isn’t an unfamiliar territory for Vihari, who himself had said last week he “preferred” batting at No.3.

Considering his contribution in Mohali, it’s more likely that Vihari would again be slotted for the No.3 position in the second and final Test in Bangalore beginning this Saturday. But what happens if he’s out cheaply in this day-night pink-ball Test? Should India continue with him or look to explore another option for one of the toughest positions in Test cricket?

“Vihari should be given a longer run. He hasn’t done anything wrong in his Test career so far,” former India wicketkeeper-batsman-turned commentator Deep Dasgupta told The Telegraph from Bangalore on Wednesday.

“He has played mostly in overseas conditions. Still, he has good enough figures and done well for Hyderabad too at No.3.

“He has got all the skillsets required to bat at No.3. There’s absolutely no need to put unnecessary pressure and insecurity into a batsman’s mind by looking for options,” Dasgupta, who has opened in seven of the eight Tests he has played, emphasised.

The situation could be a bit tricky for India once KL Rahul returns to the squad. Rahul’s comeback means he will get back to opening alongside captain Rohit Sharma. But then, what happens to Mayank Agarwal, particularly if he continues to perform?

Should India still be persisting with Vihari at No.3?

“In such a situation, Rohit, Rahul and Mayank should be the top three with Vihari at five. That should be the way to go in the long term,” former national selector Devang Gandhi said.

“Vihari has got plenty of runs in first-class cricket batting at No.5. And if Mayank doesn’t get runs, Shubman Gill can be drafted in as the No.3. Shubman is short of match practice, but he does have class and can handle the short ball too.”