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Journalism of Courage
It was just over a year ago that India went into the last Test of the home series against Australia 1-0 ahead,but having lost the services of Gautam Gambhir. The Delhi opener had dominated the Australians,having scored 463 runs including two centuries in the first three Tests. The altercation with Shane Watson during the third Test at Delhi,though,had proved costly for Gambhir and he was banned for the final Test at Nagpur.
With Gambhir missing,in walked Murali Vijay literally out of obscurity and amid a lot of scepticism surrounding his surprise selection. Within two days of sharing a mammoth 462-run stand with Abhinav Mukund for Tamil Nadu against Maharashtra in Nasik,Vijay had won his India cap and was taking guard against the likes of Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson at the Jamtha ground in Nagpur. The 25-year-old right-hander delivered a solid performance on debut,scoring 33 and 41 in the two innings and also ran out Matthew Hayden.
His story seems to be following a familiar script for the second time in the ongoing Test series against Sri Lanka. The Lankans too have not been spared by Gambhir,as he has scored centuries in both matches so far. But,as India go into the final Test of the three-match series at the CCI,they will be forced to miss him again,though for a different reason this time around with Gambhir having to attend his sisters wedding.
As Test cricket returns to CCI after 36 years,Vijay looks likely to find himself in the same position all over again. There will certainly be more time for preparation this time around,though,as he faced up to throwdowns from coach Gary Kirsten and Zaheer Khan on Sunday. The Sri Lankans,meanwhile,decided to take the day off.
Learning experience
I hardly got time to think about my debut last year. I was suddenly asked to travel to Nagpur and before it really sank in,I was batting in my first Test, he told The Indian Express. The Tamil Nadu opener added that while the suddenness did play to his advantage,he is a more settled member of the squad now.
It is certainly different. There are so many legends I have gotten to know really well in this team, said Vijay,who was also part of the Test squad during the tour of New Zealand earlier this year.
It was his consistent success in domestic cricket over two seasons that brought him into the limelight. And Vijay has continued his run in first-class cricket this season too. After missing out on a hundred during the Irani Cup,he has amassed scores of 65,95 and 148 in his three innings in the Ranji Trophy so far,averaging over 100. I have learnt to put a prize on my wicket and Im intent on scoring big runs. There is also more responsibility as the expectations have increased, he said.
Apart from their destructive abilities with the bat,its the understanding between Gambhir and Virender Sehwag between the wickets that often leaves the opposition on their heels. After sharing partnerships of 98 and 116 during his debut Test with Sehwag,Vijay hopes there will be no respite for the men from the Emerald Isle.
My job is to provide the team with a good start with Sehwag. We have developed a good understanding and trust already,which is crucial for running between the wickets. He is a great encouragement at the other end, he said.
However,while there remains a question mark over whether Vijay will get a chance to repeat his impressive performance from his debut Test,the fact remains that,regardless of what he does at Brabourne,Vijay will have to make way for the ICC International Cricketer of the Year once he returns.
