It’s a loss-loss situation for Murali Vijay as he has to make way for Gambhir in the next Test but the TN opener is ready to make the most of his chance.
Up the order, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir have been deadly. When on song it is difficult to stop the duo – be it in the Tests or the ODIs. There has already been a debate if they are the best opening pair for India ever.
The jury is out on the issue but India’s emphatic win against Sri Lanka in Kanpur was largely due to the start provided by the Delhi duo. It gave India their 100th Test win.
However, in the third Test at the Brabourne Stadium, Sehwag will not have his regular partner. Gambhir has excused himself for the Test and Sehwag will have Murali Vijay for company at the top of the order. That will put pressure on Sehwag, who will have to shoulder extra responsibility to give India a good start.
But the situation is strange for Vijay. The Tamil Nadu opener has little to gain. Irrespective of his performance, he will have to make way for Gambhir.
The young opener is aware of his the challenges and the responsibilities that come with the job. “India will miss Gambhir but this is a big opportunity for me. I would be looking forward to the game as it is my second Test. I will be looking to play my natural game and hope to give India a solid start,” says the 25-year-old Vijay.
Vijay comes into the Test after a string of good scores in the Ranji Trophy. He has accumulated 308 runs from three matches with a century and two half-centuries. “I don’t want to think about the past. I am just looking at the future, and that is to perform here,” he remarks.
The last time Sehwag and Vijay opened for India in 2008 against Australia, the duo had a 98-run partnership in the first innings and 116 runs in second. India had won the Test by 172 runs.
Vijay is excited to play at the historical venue – Brabourne Stadium, which will host its first Test match after 36 years. “I am keen and excited to play there. It is a historical venue where I would like to perform well,” he says.
The venue, too, will be a test for the openers in the morning since the ball does a lot due to early morning breeze. Hence the batsmen will have to be patient to deal with the situation.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}