Dump Murali Vijay once and for all

[Old guy]

He has surprised me with the way he has gotten his sturdy temperament back which was lost since his success in IPL. Technique can still be worked on in terms of decisiveness.

after way he got out in first game, he must have gotten lot of flak from dhoni:cantstop:

[Cevno]

His temperament wasn't in question for me. His play outside off and him edging outswingers along with getting LBW's to inswingers was.

[adi B]

defense is strong but i would have loved to see him bat vs pattinson on this pitch

[Crookbond]

I would be quite content if Vijay scores a patient 40 and sees of the new ball in overseas Test matches.

[someone]

Good innings and certainly more disciplined than Dhawan.

[coffee_rules]

Yes, have to eat the humBle pie..Never expected this from Vijay. Sharma OTOH expected more...

[fineleg]

Did not watch M. Vijay bat. Guys - how was his batting? Scorewise not much 35+ so not a great batting score. But seems like he got caught down the leg side (unfortunate). Did he look ok? Should he be persisted with for NZ tour?? or bring Gambhir in?? (or both?)

[Sidhoni]

Did not watch M. Vijay bat. Guys - how was his batting? Scorewise not much 35+ so not a great batting score. But seems like he got caught down the leg side (unfortunate). Did he look ok? Should he be persisted with for NZ tour?? or bring Gambhir in?? (or both?)

I thought he batted well. Very patient and aware of his off stump while leaving unlike Amla in first innings. Put the bad ball away.

[coffee_rules]

He took over the partnership when Pujara was in a shell. Pujara at one point had 22 dot balls while batting on 6*, Vijay kept the scorecard ticking. He looked more compact than Pujara initially. But for the unfortunate dismissal, he could have continued further. Definitely on for NZ. Gambhir can replace Dhawan, imo.

[StriKe]

Freddie Wilde ‏@fwildecricket 17m The role of Murali Vijay today should not be underestimated. That was an important and patient innings. #SAvInd

[Lord]

Did not watch M. Vijay bat. Guys - how was his batting? Scorewise not much 35+ so not a great batting score. But seems like he got caught down the leg side (unfortunate). Did he look ok? Should he be persisted with for NZ tour?? or bring Gambhir in?? (or both?)

yes I'd persist with him. jury is still out on Dhawan though

[saneindian]

In both the innings the way he has blunted Steyn's opening burst was awesome to watch. Deserved a bigger score but as long he's batting till 25-30 overs blunting the new ball for the middle order, his 30s and 40s are worth their weight in gold. Well done Vijay, gain more confident and convert one of these starts into a bigger score now.

[vvvslaxman]

He looked more restraint than Viru . This is how Viru should have played here last time. He just fell to the third man trap.

[gaurav92]

Good batting, hope he converts these starts into something substantial in the next Test.

[fineleg]

He looked more restraint than Viru . This is how Viru should have played here last time. He just fell to the third man trap.

than viru? :) That's not even a question. Anyone (except dhawan) will show more restraint than viru, since viru rarely ever shows any LOL. But Viru is a legend. Viru needs to look no further than ZK and Yuvi - his co-players - for motivation for becoming fit again. Despite Yuvi out of form, he is fit, and ZK too fit. They worked hard, can Sehwag do it? If Viru can get motivated and fit, then his form will be the only question, and if he can have one last swansong - nothing better for India than Viru century in Test match.

[vijay50]

I would be happy if Vijay can make the 40s and 50s in overseas conditions and not expose the middle order to the new ball.

[fineleg]

^ Thats what Akaash Chopra used to do regularly. But we did drop Chopra and get Gambhir who was more of a strokemaker. So, not sure if Vijay can sustain with the 30s - need the bigger scores as an opener, or same thing as what happened to Chopra?

[vvvslaxman]

^ Thats what Akaash Chopra used to do regularly. But we did drop Chopra and get Gambhir who was more of a strokemaker. So' date=' not sure if Vijay can sustain with the 30s - need the bigger scores as an opener, or same thing as what happened to Chopra?[/quote'] No. He himself was specific about it. "It is not enough blocking balls we also have to score runs" this is what he had to say after match today. He is pretty aware nothing is better than runs. He is capable. He kinda pulled a Michael carberry in this test. weathered the storm then got out unluckily. He is capable of huge scores as he has done it over the years. Let me put this way in swinging conditions his off stump play was better than Viru, Gambhir, Jaffer. They all poked from time to time.

[I6MTW]

than viru? :) That's not even a question. Anyone (except dhawan) will show more restraint than viru, since viru rarely ever shows any LOL. But Viru is a legend. Viru needs to look no further than ZK and Yuvi - his co-players - for motivation for becoming fit again. Despite Yuvi out of form, he is fit, and ZK too fit. They worked hard, can Sehwag do it? If Viru can get motivated and fit, then his form will be the only question, and if he can have one last swansong - nothing better for India than Viru century in Test match.

The problem is his hand-eye coordination is gone.

[Cricketics]

Today he showed all Sambhar, Rawa Masala dosa cuisine art batting. If only he would have showed more, he would have gotten a good 75+ score. But he batted really good. Deserved accolades for that. Like many other opening batsman from other countries, India might have been around 30-3 in 2nd innings, but Vijay showed determination to stay on the crease.