Wait and deliver not a problem for Vijay Shankar
The Indian Premier League has not just been about players performing day in and day out, and Sunrisers Hyderabad batsman Vijay Shankar showed on Saturday it is also about staying prepared while on the bench interminably waiting for a chance.
The 26-year-old Tamil Nadu batsman, who hit a match-winning 63 not out to help the defending champions defeat Gujarat Lions by eight wickets and seal their playoff spot in IPL-10, was playing in just his fourth game ever in the league.
Shankar was given a game in 2014 for Chennai Super Kings – he only bowled in that game – and after playing his first game for SRH this season on April 12, he had to wait for almost a month before being handed a second game on May 8. He remained 15 not out in that win over Mumbai Indians, and didn’t miss out at the Green Park.
Shankar’s 44-ball knock contained nine fours and he raised an unbeaten 133-run stand with skipper David Warner (69).
“It’s a special innings for me; I was ready for such a situation as I didn’t miss a single moment of the game even while sitting on the bench in earlier matches this season,” he said after the match.
“It was great to bat with David Warner. He was batting so well at the other end and that made it easy for me as his style of play helped me continue my stroke play,” he said. “It was a great effort from our bowlers to pull things back after Lions scored 100 plus without losing a wicket.”