Felt bad to be left out of ODI team: Murali Vijay

In your initial years in Test cricket, you were not the first choice opener. How did you take to it?
Actually, I was learning a lot of things sitting outside the Test team. I sat three-four years outside and then I got my opportunity. I did not start off well in the Chennai Test (2013-14 vs Australia) and it really hit me because I worked hard and one factor that was haunting me was the shot selection. I worked really hard and got a hundred in the second Test match (167 in Hyderabad). From there, I told myself, 'this is the best chance for myself and the team has given me the opportunity. So I want to back it up and perform as consistently as possible'.

Despite scoring runs whenever you got the opportunity, you were not sure of your place in the next Test. Did that affect you?
It does (affect). But I did not focus on that aspect. Now, I am confident of my game and looking forward to improving and adding value to the team.

Now that you have established yourself, what has gone on towards that consistency?
As I told you, I took the time off when I was not playing for the team, analysing the game what international cricket really demanded from a cricketer and that gave me a lot of insight. I had the opportunity to work alongside some of the greats of Indian cricket and that helped me a lot. I had a lot of interactions with players like Sachin paaji, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid and Laxman. I had a lot of conversations with them and I just wanted to take the points that could help my cricket and move forward and it really helped me.

How satisfying was it to succeed in your maiden tours of England and Australia? What adjustments did you have to make?
It was more a mental aspect of the game rather than the technical. All I did was to keep the basics tight, work around that and not trying too many things because starts are very crucial when you go abroad and I took up the responsibility saying that I have got to give good start to my team and that I believe in my abilities. I have always believed in it. It has always come together because of the work I put in the off season.

You had a fantastic start to the England series but it did not end the same way. Why?
I was actually batting well throughout the series. But in the third Test (Southampton), the run out (2nd innings) changed the momentum. I lost that momentum and I got a couple of good balls. Everyone knows that international cricket is not easy and the pressure comes on to you but I was giving it all but things did not go well for me after that. That was a learning curve for me and in Australia, I made myself more consistent mentally than giving it up because England really helped me as a player and I went to Australia with a different frame of mind.

How has it helped you?
There is no complacency creeping in for a player in international cricket. I think most of the batsmen will accept that. That is one thing I really wanted to learn and do. Learning and doing are two different things. I also got the experience of doing it. That helped me a lot rather than just keep learning off the field (without the opportunity of doing it). England gave the opportunity to learn on the field and it gave me immense confidence. Even though I got out, I was playing well. I was playing those 40-50 balls that the team required. That gave me the confidence though I did not carry on to make a big hundred or a 70 or an 80. Those things, I personally cherish and when I went to Australia, I was in a different mindset in the sense that I was confident and more positive. The game is all about confidence. One might be a 100-Test match player or a 1-Test player. It is about the way you carry yourself in the middle and how confident you are with your shot selection and the way you go about it.

How different were England and Australia? Did you have to technically make adjustments?
Yes, 100 per cent. You have to make adjustments. England was more testing and Australia was more challenging in the sense that if you bide a session, it is still not easy. And in England, throughout the day you know the ball will do something and you have to focus really hard througout the day.There is no phase of your game where you will say 'I will dominate the bowler' because he may produce a beauty for which you may not have an answer. So, you cannot wait for the delivery, you have to keep focussing on what you do and if you can do it for long, nothing like it.

In England, nothing went right for Virat Kohli whereas you had no such problems. And, he came back in an emphatic manner in Australia. What differently did he do?
We are good friends off the field and in this unit, there is not much age difference. Everybody is of the same age group. Virat, as everybody knows, is an established cricketer at the moment, and obviously is a good friend of mine. All we used to speak is about cricket. We all know he was going to comeback one day and it was just a matter of time. Any cricketer can go through it and he came out like a champion.

How disappointed were you to miss a century at Lord's (by 5 runs)?
I was very disappointed. But I was not even aware of the 100. I was only looking at pushing the score a little bit more so that we are in a comfortable position to dominate the Test match. That was running on my mind. I just wanted to play till the new ball. Maybe next time I will get my 100 there.

Is it actually possible for players to not keep an eye on the scoreboard when in the middle?
You will be aware of your score but what I am trying to say is that when you are batting, you don't know what score you are batting on. You know you are in the 90s, but not exactly if you are on 95 or 99. I got out for 99 at Adelaide and I was very well aware of it and knew that I needed 1 run to get my 100. In Brisbane, I was not aware at all. I knew I was closing in on 100 but not aware of what score I was on when I got that 100. It helps me because the team score matters to me than my personal score. That is how I go about it because it eases out the pressure on a batsman.

How different is batting overseas?
The major thing is fitness. Adapting to the conditions very fast is important because you cannot take much time as we don't have much time. You have got to be on dot from ball one and give it your best shot and stick to your basics.

Do you prepare differently for different tours?
I have got to thank my association and my club team because they put in a lot of effort on me and I really thank them from the bottom of my heart. Tamil Nadu Cricket Association and Chemplast have helped me in giving me whatever I wanted to prepare myself in the best possible way. Since I am not part of the one-dayers, I had to do those extra things mentally rather than the game-wise. Those things really help you as a player because if you know you have the backing, then you can go and do your stuff.

Being a regular in IPL, how do you curb the T20 instincts in Tests?
I honestly feel that if you can do well in Test cricket, you can do well in any form of the game. That is the ultimate for a cricketer. Twenty20 is all about innovation, biding your time and playing your shots. Fifty-overs needs some strategy. They have their own specialities but i think I can do all three formats of the game.

After scoring a lot of runs in Australia, you could not make it even to the tri-series side. How did you come to terms with that?
To be honest, I felt a little bad. What I believe is if I am good enough, I should be there on my own rights. I will keep working at it and the rest is up to the selection committee and the team management. Maybe I have to wait a little longer to play ODIs (regularly).

How keen are you to play 50-overs?
I am not that keen or desperate because I know I am good enough and it is just a matter of time. I am really happy for the boys doing well there (in the World Cup). Nothing is haunting me like 'I am left out'. I know if I am going to raise my game and keep working on it, someday I am going to play there.

How do you complement with Shikhar Dhawan. two different styles of openers?
We are very good friends off the field and it helps a lot when you go out to bat. We know each other's game and we know each other basically. You know exactly what he is going through and at times he comes and tells me what to do and at times, I go and tell him, 'this is what the team requires at the moment'. It is just about easing each other in the middle. I wish him good luck in the World Cup. Obviously, he is doing well and he is back in form. I am happy for him.

Do you get time to watch the World Cup action?
Yes, definitely. I have been watching all the India matches. At the moment, we are doing really well and the momentum is with us. It is really good to see.

Your record overseas initially was not great. England and Australia have put to rest those doubting Thomases, isn't it?
My first overseas tour (outside the sub-continent) was South Africa (2010-11) and I played only one game. After that, in 2013 end, I have been on tours of South Africa, New Zealand, England and Australia. I think I have done pretty well on those tours except New Zealand. In New Zealand, I learnt a lot. We went as Test players and got acclimatised to the conditions really faster, and it was challenging. They also had quality bowlers. It was a good learning overall for everybody.

What are your future goals?
I want to be the best batsman.

Players like you and Pujara play only Tests. Are you guys at a disadvantage in terms of international exposure compared to those who play all formats to you?
I take it as a challenge. I don't know about others. I go about my game, if I am batting well and I am confident mentally, I think I can do well in all formats of the game. It is just a matter of time rather than looking at things in a negative way that you are being pushed as a Test player or a one-day player. Rather, I would look at raising my game and that is the time when you can develop as a player. When you get an opportunity, you can seal it.