'With Sourav Ganguly at the helm, I hope things will change': Murali Vijay eyes his comeback to Team India

Former Indian opener Murali Vijay is currently plying his trade for his state Tamil Nadu in their ongoing Ranji Trophy encounter against Karnataka. The 61-Test veteran who racked up 4000 plus runs at the highest level hasn’t featured in a Test match for the country ever since he was dropped from the team post India’s 146-run-defeat in Perth last December.

Vijay has been in the news in the past for venting his disappointment at the treatment of dropped cricketers by selectors and team management. However, the right-handed opener who was India’s batting spearhead during the sides’ 2013-15 overseas cycle where he racked up hundreds in England and Australia is confident that with Sourav Ganguly at the helm, the situation will now be handled better.

“With Sourav at the helm, I hope things would change. He had gone through this in his career. And he had come back strongly. He knows all about the feelings and the emotions of a cricketer in this situation,” Vijay said as quoted by Sportstar.

The former Test opener added, “I am looking forward to Sourav’s stint. He is a players’ man. He is a strong personality and hopefully, he will bring a structure to the process for cricketers to perform well.”

Vijay was especially disappointed with the fact that it was overlooked for India A and Duleep Trophy sides post his drop from the senior team. The right-hander also admitted how it is tuff for an elite International cricketer to come back to the grind of domestic cricket.

“That’s exactly my point. I am just not talking about myself. I am talking about cricketers who have been left out, they should have a platform to make a comeback. It shouldn’t be a cut and chop job which leaves players in the wilderness. It is a hard pill to swallow when you know you can perform at the highest level but are playing a level down.” Vijay said.

Dropped cricketers should get a fair chance: Murali Vijay

The former Indian opener was happy with the success of the current openers- Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal- but also want the selectors to give a fair chance to dropped cricketers. “Brilliant to see Mayank and Rohit do well. It is great to watch Rohit bat and make a wonderful start as a Test opener. I feel they should be given a fair run. The openers that are waiting in the wings should be taken care of too.”

Vijay said “I am a great fan of Indian domestic cricket, but what after this? Can I just keep dreaming that I will make a comeback or is there a structure that can make it possible?”   

The Tamil Nadu opener also reckoned that India has enough talent to field two International teams. “This is my idea. The main team can play in the important series and the second team can play in the other series.” 

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