Vijay Shankar

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Career

2019, Apr: meteoric rise

Vivek Krishnan, Shankar: From nobody to India’s No. 4, April 16, 2019: The Times of India

If someone had suggested at the beginning of 2019 that Vijay Shankar would be part of India’s World Cup squad, the allrounder himself would perhaps have laughed him off. He was yet to make his ODI debut and hadn’t played for India even in T20Is since that nightmarish outing in the Nidahas Trophy final in March last year.

But a whirlwind last three months have not only given the 28-year-old a place among the chosen 15 for the World Cup, but also a possible starting XI berth with chief selector MSK Prasad stating on Monday that he is the first choice to bat at No. 4.

“I am elated to be in the Indian team. This is like a dream come true. We have a few members at SRH who have played in a World Cup and I have spoken to them to understand what it feels like to play in it. I have learnt a lot from them on the ways to manage pressure at such a big event,” Vijay Shankar said on Monday.

Vijay Shankar’s swift rise in recent months actually began with a bit of good fortune as he was drafted into the squad for the ODIs in Australia as a replacement for Hardik Pandya after the latter’s ill-advised comments in the popular TV show ‘Koffee with Karan’. Perhaps, things had just come full circle. In August 2016, after all, Hardik had replaced an injured Vijay on India A’s tour of Australia and went on to make his ODI and Test debuts shortly after.

Since January, it is safe to say that Vijay hasn’t taken a step back. While he has looked technically and temperamentally sound with the bat, his ability to contribute a few overs of medium-pace and agility in the field have worked in his favour.

As Vijay had said in an interview to TOI a couple of months ago, he started believing that he belonged in the Indian team during the tour of New Zealand. He was particularly referring to the fifth ODI against New Zealand in Wellington, when Vijay walked in at 18 for 4 and scored an assured 45 to help India recover from a tricky position and eventually win the contest.

“That knock gave the team confidence that I can bat up the order and do well. If I didn’t do well there, I would have been out of the team. I thought I should just enjoy the moment and play as many overs as possible. That ODI has changed things for me,” he said.

Further evidence of the fact that the Indian selectors and team management were looking at Vijay as a serious contender for the World Cup came in the home ODI series against Australia last month. The Tamil Nadu lad played in all five ODIs and was even promoted to No. 5 in a couple of matches. In one of those games, he batted alongside Virat Kohli and outscored the Indian captain in an eye-catching knock of 46 that ended in an unfortunate run out at the non-striker’s end.

Now, though, just eyecatching cameos won’t be enough.