“I can finish close matches,” says Vijay Shankar on being named in India ODI team

Vijay Shankar on being named in India ODI team: The rookie all-rounder spoke in the affirmative regarding maiden ODI call.

India all-rounder Vijay Shankar, who made his T20I debut against Sri Lanka during the Nidahas Trophy at Colombo in March last year, has received his maiden call-up to the ODI side as a replacement for suspended all-rounder Hardik Pandya.

Shankar was part of the India A side which toured New Zealand in December, ending it as its highest run-scorer. In three matches, Shankar had scored 188 runs at an average of 94 and a strike rate of 105.02. His current form played a major role in him receiving a national call.

Shankar, who bats in the middle-order and bowls medium-pace, is a like-for-like replacement for Pandya. In a recent interview with DNA, the 27-year old cricketer talked of possessing confidence in finishing close matches.

“I think I have become mentally stronger now and I have full confidence that I can finish close matches. India A tour of New Zealand has helped me understand my game much better,” Shankar was quoted as saying by DNA.

Shankar has developed as a cricketer in the recent times under the guidance of his India A coach Rahul Dravid. Shankar said that it was Dravid’s faith in him which aided him in finishing games for India A.

“Rahul sir told me one thing that he has faith in my ability to finish games. I think batting at No 5 also suited my game as I was able to close two games and remain unbeaten,” Shankar said.

Laying emphasis on staying in the present, Shankar said that he isn’t thinking about the looming ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. “I am not thinking about World Cup and all those things. You can’t play freely if you start thinking like that. I will have to be prepared and if an opportunity to comes along the way, I will have to grab it,” he concluded.