Murali Vijay said his 167-run knock against Australia at Hyderabad turned his career around.
Murali Vijay recalled the time when his fellow opener Virender Sehwag hinted to him that his time might be up back in 2012 following a couple of poor performances in Test cricket.
Vijay was one of the most reliable openers for Team India between 2008 and 2011, but during India v Australia Test Series in 2012, the opener was all about to lose his place in the team.
Actually, after Vijay could manage only 10 and 6 in the first Test against Australia, Sehwag told the right-hander that he may be playing his last Test series for India, and it pumped him up to play one of the memorable knocks of his career of 167 off 361 balls in the second Test in Hyderabad.
Following his remarkable innings, Vijay would never look back, scoring another ton in the third Test in Mohali.
Murali Vijay was quoted as saying by Sportstar: “I definitely felt that (turning point of career) when I scored my hundred in Hyderabad for my comeback - it was 2012 if I am not wrong.”
Vijay further added, “I don’t know the exact year but around that time, when Virender Sehwag and myself were opening, I had this hint. He came to me saying ‘This might be your last Test series’. And I felt Hyderabad innings was something pure out and above.”
He signed off by saying, “I never thought I would be having so much patience and play there. And that knock gave me the faith and belief that I can perform anywhere. The situation of my personal life and cricket hit me together. After that, I never looked back. I completely had the confidence to go and perform anywhere in the world. Trent Bridge was one of the best knocks I have played.”
He featured in 67 Tests for India, scoring around 4000 runs at an average of 38.28 with the help of 12 centuries and 15 fifties. His last Test came in 2018 against Australia in Perth.