Vijay unperturbed by competition for opening spot

It's been a game of musical chairs for the opener's slots in the Indian team, but M Vijay, the incumbent in the second Test between India and Sri Lanka in Nagpur, took it in his stride and said it was something he had come to terms with.

Till the home series against Australia in March earlier this year, Vijay was India's first-choice opener. Then, a long-term wrist injury resurfaced and he was subsequently ruled out of the Sri Lanka tour, losing his place to Shikhar Dhawan.

When he regained fitness, India continued to stick with the opening pair of Rahul and Dhawan for the first Test in Kolkata. It was only when Dhawan put in a request to the Board of Control for Cricket in India and was released from the squad for the second match that Vijay got an opportunity. And he seized it, hitting 128 as India reached 312 for 2 on the second day in reply to Sri Lanka's 205.

The opening conundrum might cause a few headaches, happy or otherwise, for the team management, but not for Vijay. “I really don’t have to deal [with it] as long as I am happy and comfortable in my space,” he said on Saturday (November 25). “If I am able to achieve that on a consistent basis, I think I am doing a good job.”

Vijay's studied approach at the crease – leaving balls outside off stump – seems more suited for green wickets, such as the ones India will likely encounter in South Africa next month, compared to Rahul and Dhawan's more attacking strokeplay. Yet, when India squared up against Sri Lanka on a green Eden Gardens pitch under overcast conditions, Vijay was left out. But he wasn't sitting idle, far from it.

“I feel as a professional you should always be ready whether you get a chance or not,” he said. “You should be ready from inside, eying a chance, so whenever you get a chance you are not lacking on that aspect.

“You can be fully aware of what's happening and what's going to happen. It is difficult and I am used to it by now. I just wanted to contribute whenever I get an opportunity to play for India.

"Playing for India is difficult and whoever gets a chance, I wish them luck. I know how difficult it is to be in that space and perform, whoever gets a chance should perform."

And perform he did, his wrist feeling "fantastic". Alongside Cheteshwar Pujara, Vijay put on a tenth century stand. The second-wicket stand was worth 209 and went a long way in helping India pull ahead.

The two initially took their time, getting their eye in. "I think that’s how innings have got to be built," he pointed out. "The easy way [is] being more aggressive and taking a high percentage of risks, but they were bowling well and so we thought that we can buy time now and maybe cash in in the later half of the day."

The numbers show Vijay and Pujara have an excellent rapport, but Vijay suggested it was a case of birds of a feather flocking together. "I like batting so it does not matter who bats at the other end," he offered. "Pujara also has similar mindset as he likes to dig in deep and scrap it out in a situation with varied demands. Hopefully, we can continue and do it for India more times."

While Pujara remained unbeaten on 121 at the end of play, Vijay couldn't go on to convert his knock into a daddy hundred. His highest score remains his 167 against Australia in March 2013, and he conceded that he should have made a big score here. "I am waiting for that," he said. "I was mentally and physically fit today and it should have happened in this match. Maybe in the next."

Whether that materialises or not, Vijay's first aim was a win in Nagpur after Sri Lanka clung onto a draw in Kolkata. "We are playing as a good unit and hopefully we can win the series, which is more important than personal glory. Hopefully, we can all put a price on our wicket, put that 400-plus score so that our bowlers get a chance to get them out twice."