I Am Not Disappointed, But Really Hurt – Murali Vijay On Getting Dropped From The MCG Test
Mar 1, 2019 at 7:03 PM
The Indian Test specialist opener Murali Vijay has felt hurt to missing out the Melbourne Test that began on last Boxing Day. While he is happy for the newcomers in the national squad, he doesn’t feel any threat to losing his position from the national team.
In the post era of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, Murali Vijay has handled the Test opening batting position brilliantly. Though he made his international debut in 2008, he has become the regular Test opener from 2013. Since 2013, the right-handed opening batsman has gradually become an essential member of the national test team.
However, he had a very struggling period in the last calendar year (2018). In 2018, Murali Vijay scored 282 runs in 15 innings with an average of just 18.80. Though he scored a century against Afghanistan last June, it was the only cheerful knock for him in that year.
After playing the first two Tests in the England tour last August, the team management dropped him from the playing XI. Soon in that series, the team management decided to drop him from the squad. After missing out the home Test series against Windies in last October, he finally returned to the Test team during the subsequent Australia tour.
However, he once again failed to make his mark in the Australia tour. During the Australia tour, he played in the first two Tests at Adelaide and Perth where he scored 11, 18, 0 and 20 runs. Later, the team management didn’t select him in the playing XIs for the next two Tests at Melbourne and Sydney.
Murali Vijay expected to play the Melbourne Test
Murali Vijay was confident to play the Melbourne Test. He believed that he was only one innings away from the big knock. Missing out the MCG Test, the senior cricketer felt hurt, but he was not disappointed.
Murali Vijay told The Hindu, “I expected to play the Test. In fact, I was sure I would play the Test. I had batted well in the second innings of the second Test at Perth. I felt I was only one innings away from form.”
He further added: “I feel hurt that I am not a part a part of the Indian team. I am not disappointed. But really hurt.”
I don’t feel intimidated by the competition
Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal both have shined as the Test openers in recent times. Murali Vijay is also happy with the newcomers’ performances. However, he doesn’t feel any competition with the newcomers.
Murali VIjay said, “People don’t know or understand me. I don’t see myself competing or feeling threatened by the newcomers. Two years back, I said Prithvi Shaw would play for the country. I am happy for them.”
He also said, “I have scored nearly 4000 Test runs for the country, I must be pretty good to have done that. I have made runs in difficult conditions, in England and Australia. And I came through a period when Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir were there. I don’t feel intimidated by the competition.”
I will play till my heart tells me to play
Murali Vijay is still looking forward to stretching his Test career. The 34-year-old is feeling fit to continue his Test career.
He said, “I will play till my heart tells me to play, you can’t take that away from me. I am fit and only 34 and I have more Test cricket left in me. Lately, I have been receiving some good deliveries. Then, there have been other factors.”
Murali Vijay is now busy to play in the ongoing 2018/19 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (domestic T20 tournament). Playing for Tamil Nadu, he has recently performed well scoring 77 and 74 in consecutive innings.