Expressing his delight of being back into action, India’s Test opener Murali Vijay, on Thursday (August 10), said he is yet to regain full fitness.
The 33-year-old was set to play his second competitive game since the Australia series in March but the TNPL match between Lyca Kovai Kings and Madurai Super Giant was unfortunately abandoned due to a wet outfield.
Since being sidelined after the Dharamsala Test, Vijay, who was set to lead Kovai, had only featured in a TNCA first division league match last month.
The right-handed batsman had recovered from the wrist injury that forced him to miss the entire Indian Premier League and was named in the squad for the ongoing series in Sri Lanka. However, he pulled himself out of the series after the pain in his right wrist resurfaced. And although he is still not feeling completely fit, he is delighted to be back in action.
“It’s an absolute pleasure to get back into action,” Vijay had said before the game was officially called off.
“To be honest, I don’t feel 100% yet, but mentally I’m up there. Hopefully, I can start from the TNPL and build from there on. Once I am fully fit, I will be informing the BCCI,” he added.
When quizzed whether playing the shortest format of the game was ideal compared to other formats for making a comeback from a lengthy lay-off, he said:
“For me, the format doesn’t matter. My injuries are not under my control.I just want to be fit and play cricket. As everyone has seen, my career has been one-dimensional so far. I obviously want to enhance it.
“It’s just my mindset and my injuries, which I have to manage properly from now on. Any cricket is fantastic for me because I enjoy playing cricket and it’s an excellent opportunity for me to start my second innings,” he added.