A champion batsman in Tests, Murali Vijay has had his moments in the shorter versions of the game too.
In this interview to The Hindu on Thursday, Vijay said, “Each has its own demands, but I am sure I can play for India in all formats. In the last ODI series I played for India in Zimbabwe this season, I was the Man of the Match in one game. I have had my successes in T20 cricket. I am confident I can do well for Kings XI Punjab this IPL season.”
On the demands of being a technically pure batsman and still adapting to different formats, Vijay said, “You have to play with different mind-sets. I always wanted to be a very good Test player. I knew if I could accomplish that, I would do well in the other formats too.”
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Conquering peaks in Test cricket gives him immense satisfaction — such as the outstanding century he made on a fresh Gabba pitch with seam movement and bounce on day one last year. Vijay said, “These are the conditions that I crave for. It gives me a kick to play the toughest format, particularly when the conditions are difficult. It challenges me as a person and teaches a lot of things.”
Ask him about the most challenging bowler he has faced and Vijay responds, “Jimmy Anderson in England. He was swinging the ball both ways. As an opener you have to be really, really sure of your off-stump.”
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Vijay excelled both on the Test tours of England and Australia, two demanding campaigns in contrasting conditions. The opener said, “In England, the ball swings and it also seams off the wicket and you got to be sure about your feet movement. In Australia, there is more pace and bounce. The English conditions probe your technique more. Leaving a lot of deliveries outside off-stump was a conscious decision I made. In Australia, you play the horizontal bat shots, the cut and the pull.”
“Sachin Tendulkar is like God, because of his balance at the crease,” he said on his idol. “Balance is the ultimate thing. Footwork is reaction to the ball but balance actually starts earlier, from your stance, your set-up to seeing the ball; that is, how still you are before the ball is being released.”
Vijay spoke about his technique. “My backlift enables me to get my power. The bat has to come down in line with the ball, whatever line you are pursuing with your eye. And my footwork helps me get into good positions.”
Leaving the ballOn his expertise at leaving balls outside the off-stump, Vijay said, “It depends on your guard, your stance, you watch the bowler’s hand carefully. I take the leg-stump guard against Mitchell Starc because he brings the ball in. I take the middle-and-off guard against Mitchell Johnson since he does not bring the ball in.”
Playing spinners was about reading the length and using the crease, he said. “You pick the trajectory, the flight. You play on the bowlers’ mind, step out and then when he pitches it shorter, go deep and cut. You open the field as well, manipulate it according to your liking, with footwork.”
Vijay, however, feels playing regularly and across formats for India would enable him stay in rhythm and evolve further.