MURALI VIJAY

Murali Vijay came into the England series with a century against Afghanistan at home and the tag of being the highest run-getter for India on the previous tour to England in 2014. However, the Vijay we saw in this England series was a shadow of his past self.

The opener who was known for his immaculate judgment of the off stump and for leaving the balls aplenty; started getting dismissed bowled and LBW. Vijay had troubles in Tests against South Africa earlier in the year with scores of 1, 13, 46, 9, 8 and 25 in the three Tests.

His struggles continued against pace and the moving ball in England, as he joined an unwanted list of Indian openers to bag a pair in a Test in England when he was dismissed for 0 and 0 at Lord’s. The way of his dismissal at the hands of James Anderson in the first innings was proof enough that Vijay had lost his touch, as he was castled with a full out swinging delivery.

He was dropped after the Lord’s Test and sent back home after being dropped from the squad for the last two Tests and replaced by the 18-year-old sensation Prithvi Shaw.

At 34 years old, Vijay might have played his last Test as India will be touring Australia in November and the pace and bounce on the Australian pitches will be more difficult than England and with Shaw poised for a Test debut at Oval, Vijay’s days as the premier opener for Indian team might have come to an end.