India all-rounder Vijay Shankar made his World Cup 2019 debut even more special by making history to become only the third bowler in the tournament's history to achieve the feat of getting a wicket on his maiden bowl in the ICC events on Sunday, 16th June.
Shankar achieved the feat during the ICC World Cup 2019 match against Pakistan in Manchester, thanks to captain Virat Kohli who handed him the ball to complete the two balls of the fifth over after he had lost Bhuvneshwar Kumar to injury, and the all-rounder made the most of the golden opportunity here.
In his maiden bowl at the ongoing World Cup 2019, Vijay trapped Imam-ul-Haq leg before wicket with a full ball that seamed in, and the all-rounder said he was totally black at that moment, saying he is satisfied with his debut and he will cherish that forever.
Shankar told media after the match, “I was so blank because I wasn't expecting it at that time. I think that also helped me at that time. It was swinging a bit for me so I just thought I should hit the right areas. Getting a wicket off your first ball is always special for any cricketer.”
He continued, “It is a very satisfying match for me. Playing against Pakistan, making a World Cup debut against Pakistan is a great thing for me. I just wanted to enjoy this moment because we rarely get such opportunities. World Cups come once in four years, the whole world will be watching this game. Making my World Cup debut in this game, I just thought I would enjoy myself a lot more.”
Meanwhile, Vijay ended with two wickets and also took a catch in his debut World Cup match against Pakistan beside contributing an unbeaten 15-ball 15 in the fag end of the innings.
On his batting show, Vijay said, “In the back of the mind there was a slight thought that I wasn't connecting but on the positive side I was just trying to hit through the line. I wasn't going across (the line). As a batsman, I'll take it as a positive because it was reversing a lot and they were bowling wider lines. It happens. Maybe after a couple of innings when I have a flow, things will be totally different.”
While it remains to see whether Shankar would get another match or not in the ongoing World Cup 2019, but the all-rounder has stressed that he would not take things for granted, saying his only focus is on the preparation whether or not he is in the playing XI here.
He further explained, “I definitely don't see anything like that," he said. "You cannot take anything for granted. It is important for me to do the same things that have got me here. If I can carry it and improve on it... I need to get better as a cricketer. I've always given importance to the preparation.”
Shankar signed off by saying, “For me, I should always work really hard and keep myself really fit. I should keep improving my cricket. That's the only thing I look at in my practice sessions. At the end of the practice sessions, if I'm feeling satisfied, it means I've got something good.”
(With Cricketnext Inputs)
