Bengaluru to Bengaluru - Murali Vijay comes a full circle

Murali “The Monk” Vijay

During the early part of 2013, Murali Vijay was just like any other Indian player on the domestic circuit looking to break into the Indian side. The only difference between him and the rest was that while everybody else was looking for a maiden berth into the national side, Vijay was looking to re-enter the team.

The right-hander made a very good case of making a comeback for the Test series against England in November 2012 after smashing 266 while playing for the Rest of India against Rajasthan at Bangalore.

That monumental effort didn't prove to be fruitful as the selectors opted to stick with the tried-and-tested combination of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir for the series. But he didn't let that non-selection affect him and carried on representing his state in domestic cricket.

The door to making a return opened again four months later. Gambhir was going through a harrowing time in international cricket and had his spot in doubt. It was then that the Tamil Nadu opener played a terrific innings of 116, again in the Irani Trophy, this time against Mumbai.

It was a critical innings as he had had a miserable time in the 2012-13 season, where he had averaged 17.25. The selectors didn't disappoint him this time and picked him for the first two Tests in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy of 2013 against Australia, ahead of Gambhir.

The disastrous second coming

Playing at home is always a special feeling – any cricketer would tell you that. And the same cricketer would also tell you that it wouldn't leave the sweetest of tastes in his mouth if he flopped at home.

Unfortunately for Vijay, he fell in the latter category. A 10 and 6 in each innings of the first Test meant that his spot was once again under scrutiny even as his fellow teammates celebrated a 1-0 series lead. Hence, the significance of the next match at Hyderabad was colossal for him.

Meet the new Vijay

Australia declared their first innings on the opening day at 237 for 9 and India lost Sehwag early on Day 2. The onus was now on Vijay and new man Chesteshwar Pujara to stabilize the ship. Sensing that this was his great opportunity to get the team out of a hole, Vijay batted with focus, a trait that was new from him and refreshing for a spectator to see.

Showing admirable patience and determination, Vijay scored a wonderful 167 off 361 balls to pull India out of the woods and more importantly, keep his place in the team.

A confident Vijay then moved to Mohali where he played second fiddle to his opening partner Shikhar Dhawan, who blazed his way to a maiden Test hundred. But the right-hander played yet another measured innings, scoring 153 off 317 balls to pave the way for another Indian win.

The foundations of the overseas rock

After the two-Test series at home in November 2013, India embarked on a three-ODI and two-Test series to South Africa. The series was a new beginning for the team since this was the first assignment minus any of the Fab 5.

This meant there was additional responsibility on the shoulders of the likes of Vijay, who had to stand up and be counted. After a poor Test at Johannesburg, the right-hander stepped up his game and played a vital knock of 97 in the second Test at Durban to show everybody that he could repeat his home exploits overseas as well.

Once again the innings was played with composure, with every good ball negotiated safely and every bad ball put in its place.

Vijay has provided a certain level of assurance for the rest of the pack

The minor blip and the second reinvention

After the tour to South Africa, the Indians went to New Zealand in 2014 and this was perhaps his most forgettable series in the last two years. A return of 53 runs in 4 innings meant that it was time to get back to the drawing board and iron out the flaws.

And iron them out he did. A recharged Vijay scripted a terrific 146 in the first Test of the series at Trent Bridge in England, displaying outstanding judgement outside the off stump and putting the bad balls away when on offer.

A much bigger contribution from his bat though arrived in the next Test at Lord’s, when after a failure in the first innings, he scored a brilliant 95 in the second essay to help India script a famous win.

While the remainder of the series was a disappointment for him and the team, the right-hander finished as the highest run-getter for India with 402 runs at an average of 40.2.

Solid in Australia

After passing the English test, it was time for some fire down under. Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris and Josh Hazlewood awaited the Indians, but for our “Monk”, it didn't matter. He came, he saw and he conquered. 482 runs in four Tests and being the highest run-getter after Steve Smith and Virat Kohli says it all.

Despite putting in stellar performances in Tests, Vijay didn't find a place in the 15-member squad for the 2015 World Cup. But again the non-selection didn't deter him. He came to Sri Lanka later after having missed the first Test, but scored a crucial 82 in the second innings that helped India win the match.

Murali Vijay has performed in almost all conditions in the last two years

In the recently concluded Test at Mohali, Vijay showed everyone that he has what it takes to tackle a gyrating deck, by making vital contributions in each innings.

Few players in their first tours to England and Australia have performed as well as Vijay did. Sachin Tendulkar had a very good time when he first toured the Old Blighty in 1990 and then had an even more remarkable time on his maiden tour to Australia in 1991-92. But players like Tendulkar are a rare breed, to say the least.

Since Sunil Gavaskar, India has seen many great openers – Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir among them. Vijay has moulded himself into the Gavaskar-type opener, with the only difference being that his range of shots is wider than the acclaimed Mumbaikar.

Assured off either foot, Vijay has very good knowledge of where the off stump is and also has the ability to keep the scoreboard ticking along. It certainly looks like India have found the man for all conditions.

Vijay has been India’s “Mr. Consistency” over the last two years and as he returns to Bengaluru to face South Africa, there is no doubting that he will be ready.