Murali Vijay rapidly turning into India’s most dependable batsman

Murali Vijay rapidly turning into India’s most dependable batsman

Murali Vijay struck his sixth Test century, against Bangladesh in the ongoing one-off Test at Fatullah that laid platform for a huge total in India’s first innings. Looking back at his exploits it can be said that Vijay is rapidly becoming India’s most dependable batsman in Test cricket. Devarchit Varma has more.

It all started with two back-to-back scores in excess of 150 against Australia in 2013. Back then, Murali Vijay was making yet another comeback to international circuit. He rose up to the challenge of providing India a man to look up to in the top of the batting order, and has certainly established himself as one of the most dependable batsman in the Test side.

Vijay’s rise could be credited not only to the sheer amount of runs that he has accumulated at the top, but also to the discipline that he has shown, to the hunger for big runs that is there is his calm persona, and to the approach that he has for every single innings. On Friday, Vijay fell against Bangladesh only when the team had begun looking for quick runs. He went for an ambitious sweep only when the team was forced to change its strategy — because of the unrelenting rains — and till then Vijay did not make any major error that could have resulted in his dismissal.

When Shikhar Dhawan was going all-out against a toothless Bangladeshi bowling attack on Day One, never even once did Vijay get tempted to follow his partner. Dhawan’s rapid innings on Day One morning showed how conducive was the wicket for batting, and how poor was the opposition bowling attack that failed to snaffle even one wicket. After all, Bangladesh have dominated their opponents at home riding on the exploits of left-arm spinners, but none of the seven bowlers could remove any of Vijay or Dhawan. READ: Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay dismantle a resurgent Bangladesh

The frailty of Bangladesh bowling attack or an easy wicket did not spur Vijay to go for his strokes, even though he possesses big shots in his arsenal. Vijay approached this innings in the manner he always does — watchful, cautious, and showing tremendous application and temperament. He never remains stuck at the crease, but his style of play allows the other stroke makers in Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane to play their natural game.

And this is exactly why you get to see Vijay forming many crucial partnerships with the middle-order mainstays. Be it the rapid 114-run stand for the fourth wicket at run rate of over 5 with Rahane at Fatullah, or the sublime 126-run stand for the fifth wicket with MS Dhoni at Trent Bridge, or the 55-run opening stand with Dhawan in Melbourne — India’s first 50-plus opening partnership since 2011 — Vijay has provided solidity to India in Test cricket in a manner which no one can. READ: Murali Vijay continues to make impressive progress

All these qualities make Vijay an extremely dependable batsman, and being the second most experienced (31 Tests so far) in the Indian batting line-up after Virat Kohli (33 Tests so far), it is imperative that his growth continues. READ: Murali Vijay creates new batting record

In an interview to The Indian Express earlier this year, a pragmatic Vijay revealed his disappointment for not getting chances in limited-overs cricket. The exclusion from ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 would have certainly dented the confidence of such a resolute player, but Vijay said he considers it a blessing to be able to play international cricket for India and make living out of it. Indeed, it is a blessing for anyone who is so richly talented and relentlessly focused, and India is lucky to have such men in their ranks. READ: Vijay, Kohli India’s best batsmen against Australia

(Devarchit Varma is a reporter with CricketCountry. He can be followed on Twitter @Devarchit)