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.
BREAKING NEWS: 19-year-old Shubman Gill has been called up to the India senior squad for the first time.
He and Vijay Shankar will replace KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya for their tours of Australia and New Zealand.
READ 👇https://t.co/YTmJP9KLWo pic.twitter.com/rVoO5zEhnh
— ICC (@ICC) January 12, 2019
Let Vijay Shankar or Kedar Jadhav Play in place of DK. As they are good finisher than DK and also a handy all rounders.
— Aditya singh (@Adityas53467502) January 14, 2019
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.
Hope Vijay Shankar do well I don’t want to see Hardik Pandya again anymore in #TeamIndia
— The Cricket Guy (@golumolu143) January 13, 2019
“Vijay Shankar” welcome to Team India
— K Mohan (@Mohansainikpuri) January 12, 2019
“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.
