Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri was full of praise for Gujarat Titans all-rounder Vijay Shankar for an exceptional knock against two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders On Sunday. Coming into bat at Number 5, Vijay Shankar hammered KKR’s bowling as struck unbeaten on 63 off 24 including four fours and five sixes to finish the innings.
They were a lot of talks around the Tamil Nadu All-rounders selection in the Indian team ahead of Ambati Rayudu for the 2019 World Cup, with former Chief selector MSK Prasad terming him as a 3-dimensional player, but Shankar hardly fulfilled his potential for the Men in blue and he was soon out of the Indian white-ball team.
Speaking on Star Spots about Vijay Shankar’s performance, Ravi Shastri lauded the 32-year-old for his work ethic to make a strong comeback in IPL 2023.
“The fact that Vijay was picked for the World Cup is because he had this kind of talent. And I am glad that he has gone back, worked hard, and not given up. You know he has had some tough times, he has had an operation as well, but he has come back strong,” Ravi Shastri said.
Vijay Shankar had a toe injury during the 2019 World Cup and his international career so far playing in 12 ODIs and nine T20Is for a combined total of 324 runs and nine wickets. Coming into IPL 2023, Vijay Shankar had a fantastic domestic season for Tamil Nadu scoring 483 runs with three centuries and averaging 53.66 in the 2022-23 season.
Gujarat Titans Have Got Some Power Hitters In The Back End Of The Innings – Ravi Shastri
In the absence of the skipper Hardik Pandya, Vijay Shankar was drafted into the playing 11 and he made an impact straight away for the defending champions. Ravi Shastri hailed Vijay Shankar for his range of shots and his hitting ability for the side.
“Beautiful hitting today because he is a clean striker of the ball, he has got a wide range of shots and, because of his reach and height, he can hit the ball a long, long way. Great to see. This is the strength of the Gujarat Titans. They have got some power hitters in the back end of the innings. So if they get off to a good start then they are a very dangerous side at the back end of the innings,” Ravi Shastri added.
Vijay Shankar’s blistering innings helped Gujarat Titans post their first 200-plus score in IPL 2023, but his knock went in vain, with them losing the match due to last-over heroics by Rinku Singh, it was the first loss to Gujarat Titans in this edition of the cash-rich league. Gujarat Titans will take on Punjab Kings on April 13 in their fourth league match.