I can win more close matches with the bat: Vijay Shankar

A couple of months ago, Vijay Shankar wasn’t in contention for a place in the Indian team. However, times have changed for him and Hardik Pandya’s suspension meant that he was drafted in for the Australia ODIs last month. The Tamil Nadu-born all-rounder didn’t get any chances with the bat and moreover, he couldn’t churn out a wicket in the two ODIs he played in Australia.

Nevertheless, the experienced campaigner came good in the Wellington ODI against Kane Williamson’s New Zealand where he notched 45 runs batting lower down the order. In the T20I series that followed, the 28-year-old was promoted to bat at number three and it came as a massive surprise for many. Shankar didn’t disappoint and churned out scores of 27, 14 and 43 respectively.

Mentally, I was in a very good space

Despite doing reasonably, Shankar isn’t satisfied and reckons that he should’ve won at least one match. He isn’t overly disappointed though and feels that he has learnt a lot on the tour.

“I actually expected a lot more from myself. I could have batted till the end and seen the team through in the second T20I against NZ, but I missed out. In that way, I was a bit disappointed. But otherwise, it was a good tour for me. I have learnt a lot and I am getting better,” Shankar was quoted as saying in an exclusive interview with The Times of India (TOI).

“Mentally, I was in a very good space when I went there. I remember telling before leaving for Australia that I can win close matches with the bat. I had a chance to do that but I missed out. I have done it a couple of times for India A, but I need to show that I can do it a lot more for India,” he added.

India are next scheduled to play a two-match T20I series against the Aussies and a five-match ODI series thereafter and Shankar would be hoping to put his best foot forward, provided he breaks into the eleven.

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