This has been a breakthrough year for Vijay Shankar. At the beginning of the season, he was staring down a dark stretch. He has shown character to embrace sunshine.
The 24-year-old cricketer from Chennai grappled with a groin injury and then fractured the little finger of his right hand after just one Ranji Trophy game. Vijay Shankar missed four games.
“That was a period when I became mentally stronger,” said Vijay Shankar to
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When the knock-out matches got underway, he was in the thick of action.
Vijay Shankar made 111 and 82 in the quarterfinal against Vidarbha, came up with a crucial 91 that took the game away from Maharashtra in the semifinal and produced a fighting second innings 103 to delay Karnataka’s victory in the final.
The six-footer also sent down his seamers zestfully, picking vital wickets. And his athletic fielding was an asset for Tamil Nadu.
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Fittingly, Vijay Shankar has been selected in the Rest of India squad. “This is a big moment for me, to be in the Rest of India team,” he said.
Vijay Shankar made a crucial mental switch. “Previously, I used to put too much pressure on myself. I told myself that I would enjoy my cricket. Keep my mind free. Keep all the negative thoughts out.”
He remembered a conversation with his idol Rahul Dravid. “He told me to keep my mind blank while facing the ball. ‘Your focus should only be on playing the ball’ he said.”
In both the quarterfinals (Tamil Nadu was 50 for three and then 26 for three) and the semifinals (the side was 90 for three) Vijay Shankar walked into pressure situations and revived the innings.
“Personally, I would love to bat higher, maybe No. 3, but am happy to perform in whatever role the team gives me,” he said.
The cricketer is pleased that he played on all types of pitches this season — the turning tracks, the green-tops and the batsman-friendly surfaces.
Someone who appears to have time to play the ball, Vijay Shankar topped the Ranji averages for the State with 577 runs in seven matches at 57.70.
He also scalped eight batsmen at 33.62.
Valuable inputsAn elegant right-hander who relishes stroking in the ‘V’, Vijay Shankar has received valuable inputs from personal coach S. Balaji over the years.
In recent times, he has worked on tightening his back-lift.
India opener Murali Vijay has helped out Vijay Shankar too. “Vijay anna has often spoken to me about technical issues and mind,” he said.
With the ball, Vijay Shankar operates between 120 and 125 kmph these days.
He does take the ball away from a side-on release. Given his frame, he certainly does seem capable of bowling a yard or two quicker. “My bowling has given Tamil Nadu the flexibility to pick an additional batsman or a spinner,” he said.
The cricketer has got over a no-balling problem with State coach W.V. Raman helping him out.
Vijay Shankar does have interesting possibilities in a country that seeks all-rounders.