Though selectors did not name any replacement for Dhawan, they announced that all-rounder Vijay Shankar will be replacing the fast bowler for the second Test. The 26-year-old from Tamil Nadu has been rewarded for his recent heroics in the Indian domestic circuit and for the India A side.
His family members were elated after hearing this news as they felt Vijay’s hard work over the years has paid off. His brother Ajay, who plays lower division cricket, said he is very happy for his younger sibling and confident that he will do well if he gets a chance to play in the upcoming fixture.
“We are really happy about the maiden national team call-up for Vijay. I hope he grabs the place by performing well if he gets a chance. As a brother, I am confident that he will give his best and as a cricketer, I’ll say that he should mingle with the team well. I hope he has some luck and I pray for him that unplayable or unpredictable deliveries should not come his way if he makes his debut. We will be really happy if he performs both with the bat and the ball,” Ajay told Sportskeeda.
He also admitted that his family were not surprised by this call-up after the Indian all-rounder was rested for this series to manage his workload.
“Yes, we were expecting this call-up as Hardik Pandya was rested and Vijay has done well in India A matches recently. Maybe this will be a good opportunity for him to prove himself,” he added.
In the ongoing Ranji Trophy, Vijay scored a century for Tamil Nadu against Odisha and also picked up four wickets on a batsman-friendly wicket against Mumbai. Vijay has a lot of potential and his progress has been hampered by injuries regularly.
Finally, the all-rounder has got his deserved call-up and he has all the qualities to succeed in international cricket. With India scheduled to tour overseas in the next couple of years, Vijay’s presence in the team will help them maintain their balance. For that to happen, he has to do well and make a case for himself if he gets a chance to play against Sri Lanka.
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