“I didn’t go to school to study. I just went there to play. I was not dumb, but I did not have any interest to study. I first started playing cricket when I was nine. But some of the many schools I went to did not have cricket. So I played street cricket,” says Murali Vijay, THE INDIAN TOP-ORDER BATSMAN, reflecting on his childhood and his love of cricket.
Murali Vijay batted with pain in the Test series against Australia, putting country over self. The man is tough, having endured much while growing up. The Indian top order batsman, who is gradually regaining his fitness, opened up during a conversation with Sport star .
How would you look at the series against Australia? It swung one way, then the other…
It was very intense. The series against Australia was one of the toughest I have played in.
You were involved in some controversy, too, in the final Test in Mohali when you claimed a catch close in, but replays showed that the catch was not cleanly taken. Steven Smith had some things to say about the whole incident.
There are times when you go with the feel. When you take a catch you cannot see it all. I thought I had taken a fair catch. But the replays from several camera angles showed something different. We accepted the decision, but you could see the reaction from the other side. All I can say is that it was not deliberate. But we were disappointed with the behaviour of the other side.
Do you feel the on-field behaviour crossed the line during the series?
Yes, the behaviour did cross the line on occasions during the series. It should not have happened. The passions ran high. Some amount of chatting is all right, but I believe the attacks should not get personal.
You are an accomplished batsman in Test cricket. However, you don’t seem to have got any credit for your skills in the shorter forms of the game.
I have had my moments in ODI cricket. In the IPL, I have made quite a lot of runs in quick time. I can adapt to different formats. If I get opportunities in these forms of cricket I am sure I can do well.
Your thoughts on K. L. Rahul. Both of you have the makings of a fine opening pair.
This story is from the July 22, 2017 edition of Sportstar.
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This story is from the July 22, 2017 edition of Sportstar.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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