Vijay Shankar on being Impact Player: ‘You need to be switched on right from the beginning of the innings, especially when you are batting second’

“It was actually not that easy because if you’re playing and if you know your role, what is it that you’re going to do, it’s totally different,” he told Sudharsan in an IPL video. “But being Impact Player you need to be switched on right from the time the team walks into bat, especially when you are batting second. Depending on the role that we get, we need to be really open. Last game you did it, you replaced Kane. This game, me coming in and having a partnership was good fun.”

Sudharsan had been the IP for Gujarat in the IPL 2023 opener against Chennai, and had scored 22 runs off 17 deliveries in a five wicket win for the defending champions. On Tuesday though, he notched up a 48-ball-62* and was the Player of the Match in Delhi.

“I think we have played hardly four-five innings together and this is like third 50 run partnership,” Vijay told Sudharsan, to which the southpaw responded, “I think it was a much needed partnership between me and Vijay anna. At that point it was a bit tricky. You have to take some time and we cannot take dot balls. So we have to just keep the scorecard moving. It was pretty interesting to bat.”

Vijay, who was previously part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad commended the duo’s running between the wickets and understanding for their success in Gujarat’s recent outing. “I think the way we ran was fantastic. I think we really enjoy running together and this was really special, winning the match for Gujarat Titans.”

He added, “The best part is that very time we come on the field, we have a lot of conversation about cricket. We discuss a lot about batting and everything.”

Sudharsan would add more of the same, “Today also, we had a lot of conversation about which bowler, what he was doing in the situation, so I think it helped me…also it did help you.”

The southpaw had made his Tamil Nadu debut under Vijay Shankar’s captaincy in 2021 and has been an integral member of the state’s white-ball and red-ball teams.

“I think I’ve mentioned this. Vijay Anna is always special for him. Even at the start in TNPL also, I played my first game against him and then I played under him for Tamil Nadu in Syed Mushtaq Ali. So I think this is very special for me. It’s a special bond,” Sudharsan conceded.

Gujarat play Kolkata Knight Riders in their next game on Sunday in Ahmedabad.

From the homepage

Exclusive | Bike skidded, rider died on spot before bus ran over it in Kurnool tragedy: Pillion rider tells police

Record-breaking Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli power India to nine-wicket win, prevent Australia’s series sweep in Sydney

Suspect in Assam railway track blast gunned down in police encounter