Murali Vijay will go a long way, says VB Chandrasekhar

Murali Vijay celebrates his century against Rajasthan Royals in Chennai on Saturday. PIC:IPL2010/GETTY IMAGES

There is a certain jinx associated with the opening batsman's tag here. Other than chief of national selectors, K Srikkanth, none from this brigade have been able to justify their early potential.

Since Srikkanth, V B Chandrashekhar, W V Raman and Sadgoppan Ramesh played for India, without much success though. All of them paid the price of being laid back.

All eyes are on Murali Vijay now. He has played five Tests and one ODI for India and everyone hopes that he will go all the way and realise his full potential.

As his thundering 56-ball 127 in the Chennai Super King's last game against Rajasthan Royals suggests, Vijay is underlining his potential in the Indian Premier League for the Super Kings, who play Mumbai Indians today.

Vijay's sudden upswing began when Chennai played Rajasthan. He made a breezy 42 off 28 balls. In the next match against Royal Challengers Bangalore, he went a step ahead and smashed 78 off 39 balls to set up a successful run chase.

Vijay's talent is unmistakable but the big worry is, that like some of his seniors, even Vijay runs the risk of being seen as easy going.

Vijay though is lucky that CSK director of operations V B Chandrashekhar, is keen to ensure the young talented player's career doesn't fizzle out like his.

"Sometimes his body language misleads you. You tend to think that this guy is not someone who really cares too much. But when you talk to individuals such as Vijay, you realise that things are not as they seem. That's one way of how I relate to Vijay because that's exactly how I was as a youngster," VB told MiD DAY at the Chidambaram Stadium yesterday.

VB was one batsman who could match Srikkanth in audacious hitting, and on many occasions, even outscored him when the two opened for Tamil Nadu.

VB admitted that given he too played in a similarly cavalier fashion as Vijay, it's only natural he remembers the mistakes he made whenever he sees the CSK batsman commit them today.

"When Vijay gets out for a 40 or a 70 or throws his wicket away, this is what I tell him: 'look at me what I am doing now. Don't waste what you have. This is the time to make good'.

"I am not a frustrated man; cricket's given me a lot. But, when I look back I realise that I could have done much more. This kid has got age on his side and he's got talent. I look at him and this is what I tell him, 'Don't be satisfied with what you have. See what more you can do and how much more you can improve'," said V B, who served a successful stint as national selector.

"Professional sport is so cruel that there is no one to hold your hand when you need it. I remember taking a long walk in New Zealand after being dropped in the second Test (1990 series). Navjot Singh Sidhu was injured in the first Test, and then another batsman, who was not even part of the tour party, was flown in and played.
When you are hoping to get one go, and you have dreamt of playing Test cricket for so many years, and you don't get an opportunity because someone else thinks that you are not fit, your mind just gives up.

"And after 10 years if Vijay's still around, making a name, I would be happy. Because at least I was around at a time when he needed someone to hold his hand."

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