CHENNAI: It was almost a year ago that Murali Vijay was chatting at mentor Bharath Reddy’s house, when the topic veered to politics. Reddy, a former India cricketer, was surprised at Vijay’s wish to move into politics, as most cricketers either want to become commentators or coaches. Also, Vijay has a few years of cricket in him.
Even on a balmy evening when this newspaper caught up with Vijay, the India opener had politics in mind. “I’m just excited by it.
I keenly followed the jallikatu issue, and it was heartening to see so many people come out in support. Any individual who knows his responsibilities and takes care of people around him is a leader,” Vijay, who has been a fan of the late former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s way of functioning, told Express.
It is unusual for an active Indian cricketer to speak about taking politics as a profession. Apart from Kirti Azad, Navjyot Singh Sidhu and Mohammad Azharuddin, not many former cricketers have chosen politics. Reddy had warned Vijay about predicaments of pursuing politics.
“He casually brings up the topic, but when I see him get intense, I tell him this is not the time to talk about politics. There is cricket to think about right now,” Reddy said. Knowing Vijay, it will be difficult to keep him away from politics.