CHENNAI: Murali Vijay’s 2018 didn’t begin on the best of notes, considering the way January unfurled for the India opener during their Tests against South Africa. The right-hander is intent on letting the past remain where it is, wanting to move ahead and rediscover his lost touch while he maps his future out.
In a freewheeling chat with Express, Vijay opens up about his thoughts on India’s ODI series win, and the injury fiasco he was a part of during the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Excerpts:
How do you adapt to different wickets and conditions?
You have to put your mind to it, and then have to make it big. Nothing is easy, wherever you play. Different situations demand different sets of skills; you have to adapt faster.
Coach Ravi Shastri had said that had India gone ten days earlier to South Africa, things would perhaps have been better. Do you agree?
It is his point of view. I have nothing to say about that. I am not the captain or the coach. Whatever the team management decides to do, we follow it.
How do you sum up the South Africa Test series as such?
It was a good learning as a team. We could have won the series. We came up pretty well in the second Test, but we did not finish it off. The third Test was brilliant for us. It gave us momentum to believe even more that we can do something special on foreign soil.
You prepared well before the series, but it didn’t really translate into results in South Africa. What went wrong?
I did not spend much time in the middle. It all boils down to shot-selection. At times, it tends to happen at that level. Again, they had some good bowlers. They kept it in the good areas, and the wicket was also a bit difficult to negotiate with. It was good learning, as a top-order batsman. I am just hoping to apply what I’ve learnt over there in the future.
Your thoughts on the bunch that created ODI history in South Africa?
Winning abroad is always special thing. I am proud of what our team has done. I think that it is because of the hard work that we put into our preparations that we are witnessing these results. As a team, we are good. We are on the right path.
What went wrong for Tamil Nadu this season, and what do you think is their way forward?
We have a long road ahead. We need to sit and think about what went wrong and work on it. I am going to win the Ranji Trophy for Tamil Nadu for sure before I hang my boots. I am clear on that part. It is about when that is going to happen. I want Tamil Nadu to do well for not just one year, but three to four years in a row.
Could the fiasco before the Tamil Nadu-Mumbai match have been avoided?
I just feel sad for whatever happened. Things could have been handled better. I felt let down that my commitment was questioned, and I was hurt. I love playing for Tamil Nadu, and I take a lot of pride in representing my state. My dream is to win the Ranji Trophy for Tamil Nadu, and I’m confident that it will happen. I’m set to talk with TNCA officials soon, and I feel that things will be fine.
You seemed to be in sublime touch on Wednesday (he scored a century for Jolly Rovers in the TNCA league). How do you look at this innings?
I am happy with the way I played for my club. I always want to keep improving my skills. This was a good opportunity. I am happy with the way I played.
ashok.v@newindianexpress.com