Vijay Shankar’s inclusion in Indian squad reward for Ranji performance
2016-17* 2016-17* 2017 Pune have brought him back.
Since 2016, Bhuvneshwar has taken 24 wickets in seven Tests including eight in the last one in Kolkata where pacers ruled the show on a greenish top.
Come 2018, Team India can boast of having Bhuvneshwar in their ranks, a bowler equipped to perform in conditions where there will be some movement. Indian selectors on Monday night sprang a surprise by naming Tamil Nadu all-rounder Vijay Shankar as replacement for Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the remainder of the Test series against Sri Lanka.
The 26-year-old received his maiden India call-up after wonderful performances in domestic cricket, with the latest being a fine hundred against Odisha and a five-wicket match haul against Mumbai in Ranji Trophy. Shankar has so far played 32 first-class matches, scoring 1,671 runs at an impressive average of 49.14 with five centuries and 10 fifties. He also has 27 wickets in the format.
Having led Tamil Nadu in a few limited-overs domestic matches, Shankar has garnered 750 runs in 37 outings at 32.60, inclusive of five half-centuries, as well as 25 wickets. To hone his skills as a bowler, Shankar has trained under the guidance of former India seamer Lakshmipathy Balaji. He has had IPL stints with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) — he bowled one over in his only appearance for CSK — and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). It was in IPL 2017 with Sunrisers Hyderabad that Shankar got a decent run of four matches, and the batting allrounder responded with a 44-ball 63 against Gujarat Lions.
In that contest, Shankar helped David Warner’s side win by eight wickets as he added 133 runs with the skipper.
Shankar had been on the radar for a while according to chief India selector MSK Prasad.
MUMBAI: