‘Scoring in England is a mental game’ – Murali Vijay
India will take on the newest entrants in the Test arena, Afghanistan, in a one-off Test in Bangalore from 14 June, and opening batsman Murali Vijay believes it is an opportunity for the team to express themselves and also plan for the five-Test series in England later in the year.
The 34-year-old said that India, No.1 on the MRF Tyres ICC Test Team Rankings, can’t afford to relax against Afghanistan.
“Afghanistan is a quality side and Test cricket as such is a test for any player,” he told The Times of India. “The Test against Afghanistan gives us an opportunity to go out there and express ourselves.”
India’s next Test challenge will be in England, a five-match series in August-September, and Vijay feels the Afghan test will help the Indians prepare. “It will definitely be an interesting game and from thereon, the strategies for the England series will start,” he said.
Vijay, who averages 40.02 from 56 Tests, scored a sublime 95 in the second innings of the Lord's Test in 2014, the only one that India won during the tour.
However, he feels that conditions in England are such that even the experienced players are bound to struggle. “Even experienced players tend to struggle in England as the conditions are alien. Scoring runs in such conditions is a mental game and you have to be persistent,” he pointed out.
“It is important to bide your time, believe in yourself and runs will come. That's what I have looked to do throughout my career.”
Playing down his individual ambitions, the opening batsman said, “I have been telling people that it's about winning more than individual performances. You can perform well but at the end of the day if the team doesn't win (the series), then it doesn't give much happiness.”
As for his own plans and targets for England, Vijay was characteristically understated. “I tried going for different things (earlier) and it didn't work. I am in a state where I want to enjoy the game than set any targets,” he said. “I believe I have the hunger to go, do big and that's more important.”