Having got this opportunity only after a suspension on Hardik Pandya, Vijay Shankar is extremely determined to shine through and help India win the next two one-dayers in Australia.
The fast bowling all-rounder, who most recently featured for India during the Nidahasa Trophy in Sri Lanka last year, has come a long way mentally from the time he got widely criticised for that 19-ball 17 runs knock during the final of that T20I tournament against Bangladesh.
After rejuvenating his career with a fantastic tour of New Zealand with India A side, Shankar has finally found favours once again from the selectors and is really geared for the task.
"It was a very good series for us(vs the kiwis). It was different conditions altogether. We almost played their international side. The New Zealand A side had a lot of players who represented their country, so it was a good challenge," Shankar, who scored 188 runs in the three one-dayers on the tour, told CricketNext, "What was good about the tour was I was able to adapt to different situations. Winning games for my team has always been my priority, that's what I always think."
"When I got the 87* chasing 300 (first one-dayer), I walked in when we lost two wickets in the same over, both set batsmen got out. From there I was able to finish the game, and it gave me good confidence. I repeated it in the next game, when I fell (for 59) when we needed around 20 runs. These things helped me think in a different way. I was just enjoying totally."
"Mindset-wise I was very chilled out. I wasn't thinking a lot, I just wanted to enjoy my cricket. Selection wise I never put pressure on myself. But I used to put extra pressure on myself about my game - I have to do this, I have to do that, like that. Sometimes I used to get disappointed badly if things didn't work"
It is this mentality that Shankar is intent on carrying forward to the highest level. If given a chance, he wants to take the field on Tuesday, January 15 in Adelaide and for the rest of this Trans-Tasman limited overs tour with nothing but a positive frame of mind.
"That's the mindset I want to continue now. Even in the Ranji Trophy, I was trying to recreate it every day," Shankar further said, "In five innings, I got three fifties in Ranji. It's been helping me to enjoy my cricket rather than putting myself under pressure. There's already enough pressure, I don't want to add on to it. When I work really hard, I believe I'll do well.
"It definitely feels good to get a call up now. I've been doing well but the important thing is to keep doing well, that's why I've got the chance."
