India vs Sri Lanka 2017, 2nd Test Day 2: 5 things we learnt from the day

#1 Murali Vijay should be India's first-choice Test opener

Vijay's overseas track-record is remarkable and he should be an automatic selection for the SA series

Murali Vijay can count himself as a very unlucky cricketer as injuries have time and again forced him out of the national side.

However, he had luck on his side this time around as Shikhar Dhawan requested the BCCI not to consider him for selection in the Nagpur Test so as to attend his sister's marriage, and Vijay was the beneficiary, opening the Indian innings along with KL Rahul.

Never one to miss out on an opportunity, Vijay once again proved to the Indian selectors that he is their best bet as India's first-choice opener and that he should be an automatic selection in the Test side when he is injury free.

He did have a couple of lucky escapes no doubt, but his knock of 128 was a joy to watch for the purists of the game. Keeping out the good deliveries patiently, Vijay dismissed the bad balls to the fence with disdain after starting out at a slow pace initially.

It is amazing to look back at Vijay's quickfire IPL century for Chennai Super Kings years ago and the kind of transformation he has brought into his game as a Test specialist who is so patient in building his innings.

His overseas track record is terrific and the Indian selectors would do well to not overlook Vijay in the Test playing eleven on India's away tour to South Africa.