Murali Vijay was dropped from the Indian side after he scored only 26 runs in four innings in the recently concluded Test series between India and England. The four innings included two ducks at Lord's at the hands of James Anderson.
Experts suggested that it could well be the end of Vijay's international career. The 34-year-old, however, has still got some hope after a magnificent ton in the English county cricket.
Making his debut for Essex, Vijay scored a hundred in the second innings helping his team register an eight-wicket win against Nottinghamshire. In the first innings of the match, Vijay scored 56 runs.
His ton helped his team chased down the target of 282 in the fourth innings.
Essex has two more games left in the County Championship's First Division and fans on Twitter are already asking for Vijay's comeback to the Indian Test side.
Here is how they reacted:
@cricketaakash ,murali vijay just scored a half century and a century in a county match,do u think he will be back in the test team against australia???
— Prajjval Tripathi (@PrajjvalTripath) September 14, 2018
Don't know how to react to Murali Vijay's runs, now, in county cricket. One thing is for certain that when a stalwart tries to earn back his place at the Test level, it is always a good news for the quality of first-class cricket.
— KASHISH (@crickashish217) September 13, 2018
Finally, Murali Vijay scored a century in England. #CountyChampionship
— Dharmendra Pant (@DMPant) September 13, 2018
A Match winning knock (100) from Murali Vijay in his debut county match for @EssexCricket as they defeated @TrentBridge by 8 wickets . And he also became Essex’s first debutant centurion since Hashim Amla in 2009 ???????? . pic.twitter.com/g0TJiXSn9G
— Sharat Chandra Bhatt (@imsharatbhatt) September 13, 2018
Knock Knock @BCCI ! Murali Vijay surely has staked his claim at the Opening Slot!! https://t.co/hWPgKQrIOU
— Chandler Bing (@SarcasmChamp) September 13, 2018
I would go with Murali Vijay in Australia and tell him you will play all 4 Test matches #MuraliVijay https://t.co/0DfkYbt1eG
— Karan Patel (@patelkaran952) September 14, 2018
#Muralivijay caps off his debut for Essex with a century in the second innings. Vijay scored hundred to help his side chase down 282 in the fourth innings. This in addition to the 56 he already scored in the first innings. Brilliant performance #ENGvIND #BCCI
— Giri Subramanian (@giri26) September 13, 2018
Meanwhile Murali Vijay scores a century while Playing for @EssexCricket . He shouldn't have been dropped. He showed the experience of the first two matches of the series, could have used that for the rest of the three matches.@vikrantgupta73
— Umang Goswami (@Umangism) September 14, 2018
Fifty in the 1st inning century in the 2nd inning that’s murali vijay for you????????
— jitz03 (@jitzvijan03) September 13, 2018
Sad part is he was our main opener batsman but Virat didn’t back him he dropped him after 3 tests ???????? pic.twitter.com/zfHS22skqQ
Murali Vijay playing brilliantly for Essex. Did India make a hasty call of dropping him after 2 Tests? India were bowled out under 150 in both innings at Lord's. #MuraliVijay #ENGvsIND
— Giri Subramanian (@giri26) September 12, 2018
Glad to see Murali Vijay score 100 for Essex, always felt he hard done by by India and Shastri, I'd have had him open with Rahul even after early summer struggles whilst Dhawan can still barely score a test run. #ENGvIND
— Harry Everett (@HarryEverett_14) September 13, 2018