England vs India: Ajit Agarkar reckons Murali Vijay's career is in grave danger

Former Indian cricketer Ajit Agarkar knows a thing or two on how to bat in the English conditions, having registered his name on the Lord’s Honors Board with a century almost a decade ago. Contributing with the willow might not be his forte, but he was a pivotal member of the Indian side back in the 2000s.

The chief selector of the Mumbai domestic team, Agarkar now reckons one of the prominent Indian star’s career is in grave danger, especially after his recent string of failures. Murali Vijay has failed to register a fifty-plus score in quite a while now, which led to his axing from the playing XI in the third Test, and when the team was announced for the last two Tests, the selectors preferred to pick 18-year-old Prithvi Shaw over him.

Despite admitting that his sacking was a harsh decision, Agarkar doesn’t foresee a miraculous comeback from the Tamil Nadu batsman. Vijay has been a remarkable servant for Indian cricket in the longest format of the game over the last few years, registering big knocks in almost every country he toured. But current form, which has been a major judgment criterion for the Indian selectors, has let the 34-year-old down.

Bringing in young kids for Vijay is a major indication: Agarkar

Andhra batsman Hanuma Vihari and Under-19 World Cup winning captain Prithvi Shaw have been roped into the Indian Test squad after a persistent show in the domestic circuit and with India A. Agarkar reckons that the selectors are aiming to move forward and give chances to youngsters.

“It is okay that Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul have got a few more runs than Murali Vijay, but that’s a bit harsh. Looks like it’s the end of…you should never say that someone will never play again, but it does look difficult as to how Murali Vijay will get back into the squad when the replacement is a young kid which implies that they are obviously looking forward.

“Two Tests, got a couple of real beauties from James Anderson and you get dropped straight from the squad, so you got to feel for Vijay. Even if the fact that he might not have played in the fourth and fifth Test, it was still harsh,” said Agarkar whilst talking to ESPNcricinfo.

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