The batting all-rounder is a handy seamer and agile fielder

A career blighted by injuries is finally up and running. Vijay Shankar is now making the big moves.

“I want to be a match-winner for India,” said Vijay Shankar to The Hindu here on Tuesday.

It does appear that this batting all-rounder may gatecrash his way into the Indian team for the World Cup. He could be that dangerous floater the Indian team seeks in English conditions.

As he showed in New Zealand, the 28-year-old Vijay Shankar can build an innings with technical nous and cultured strokeplay if early wickets are lost.

His 45 of focus and solidity enabled India recover from a precarious 18 for four and build a platform for an eventual victory in the Wellington ODI.

Measured aggression

If that innings showcased Vijay Shankar’s composure, tight game and measured aggression, when the ball zipped around for the seamers, his 28-ball 43 in the Hamilton Twenty20 International, smashing the Kiwi attack, displayed another aspect of his batting.

Vijay Shankar can be a brutal striker of the ball, hitting through the straight-field, pulling, cutting and whipping off his legs.

Interestingly, the Indian team-management showed the confidence to send Vijay Shankar at No. 3. And the cricketer delivered with his blitzkrieg.

Vijay Shankar has worked on power hitting with coach S. Balaji. He practises range hitting and uses the RobotArm. The all-rounder generates force with his bat-speed, shoulders and wrists.

He has clearly impressed Ravi Shastri. The Indian coach believes Vijay Shankar has, both, the attacking and the defensive games.

“Shastri Sir told me he liked the way I batted. His words gave me a lot of confidence. And Arun sir said I was consistent with the ball. I wanted to bowl in the right areas. The team was very welcoming, I learnt a lot,” said Vijay Shankar.

And this Indian team seeks versatility, different methods for different conditions and situations and the ability to bat at different slots. Vijay Shankar fits the bill.

The batting all-rounder brings some valuable qualities with him. He is a handy seamer and an agile fielder.

Whenever given the ball, Vijay Shankar sent down his seamers with control. At 130 kmph, he is not the quickest bowler around but could be useful in English conditions with his ability to bowl around the off-stump and extract some lift with his height and high-arm action.

Adaptability

Actually, it was the disciplinary action against Hardik Pandya that opened the pathway for Vijay Shankar. He joined the team down under and has shown efficiency, adaptability and team-spirit. Then, when Hardik joined the team in New Zealand, both played together. Hardik and Vijay Shankar in the same eleven makes the team more dynamic and vibrant, lends it greater depth.

Vijay Shankar, given his qualities and the conditions in England, is on course for a World Cup spot.