Tamil Nadu batter Murali Vijay is hesitant towards being vaccinated against COVID-19 and as a result, he has stayed away from professional cricket.

Notably, Vijay isn't a part of Tamil Nadu's campaign in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. In fact, he hasn’t played competitive cricket since September 2020 when he turned out for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the 13th edition of IPL.

According to a TOI report, the 37-year-old isn’t willing to stay inside the bio-bubble as well, which is part of BCCI’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) amid the Coronavirus pandemic.

“It is his personal decision. He is hesitant to take the vaccine. The BCCI SOPs say that a player needs to be inside the bubble for a week before a tournament starts and then as long as he is with the team. But Vijay is not too keen on it. So the Tamil Nadu selectors haven’t considered him for selection,” TOI quoted a source as saying.

The report further suggests that even if Vijay agrees to take the vaccine, he will have to prove his fitness and form before being considered for selection in the state team.

“The selectors have not even discussed about him in the selection meeting and he didn’t even make it to the Tamil Nadu list of probables picked before the domestic season. So even if he is ready to take the vaccine and wants to make a comeback, it will be a long road for him because he won’t be picked immediately. He has to prove his fitness and needs to have a few matches under his belt to be selected for Tamil Nadu again,” the source was quoted as saying.

Murali Vijay has represented India in 61 Tests, 17 ODIs, and 9 T20Is. His last appearance in international cricket was against Australia in a Test match at Perth in December 2018.

(With TOI inputs)