Hurt, but ready to make a comeback to the Indian team, says Murali Vijay

Murali Vijay has been going through a really bad patch when it comes to his time in the Indian team. First, he was dropped from the national side after the first two Tests against England, as he bagged a pair at the Lord’s Cricket Stadium, but the resilient opener made it to the team against Australia after a good time in county cricket.

However, Vijay could only manage 11,18,0 and 20 in the four innings he played in Australia in the first two Tests in Adelaide and Perth. The team management’s patience with him was over and he was dropped for the next Test in Melbourne. But Vijay, in an interview with Sportstar, said that he fully expected to play in the MCG Test and was gutted to find out that he was dropped for Hanuma Vihari.

Vijay said: “I feel hurt that I am not a part of the Indian team. I am not disappointed. But really hurt. I expected to play the Test. In fact, I was sure I would play the Test. I had batted well in the second innings of the second Test at Perth. I felt I was only one innings away from form.”

Unlucky in selection

Vijay would’ve felt disconsolate not to be picked again when the Indian team reverted back to picking a second specialist opener in the fourth Test- Mayank Agarwal- in Sydney to go with KL Rahul. Also, he was a tad better than the out-of-form KL Rahul in Australia, yet missed out on selection.

Vijay mentioned: “People don’t know or understand me. I don’t see myself competing or feeling threatened by the newcomers. Two years back, I said Prithvi Shaw would play for the country. I am happy for them.” The teenage opener form Mumbai scored a century on his Test debut against the Windies and was poised to partner Vijay in Australia, before an ankle injury during the practice game in Sydney rendered him unavailable for the whole series.

Vijay further said that he is optimistic of making a comeback into the Indian team. He feels that he has scored close to 4,000 runs in Tests for India in difficult conditions like England and Australia and said that he delivered at a time when India had openers like Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir.

On his future, Vijay says that he will play until his heart wants him. “I am fit and only 34. I have more Test cricket left in me. Lately, I have been receiving some good deliveries. Then, there have been other factors,” Vijay said that he will have his moments for the Indian team again, before signing off.

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