Murali Vijay and Abhinav Mukund are not rare as a peculiar right-left opening pair in cricket; but they have been unique in their own way and a very successful pair since the time they arrived into the serious ambit of Tamil Nadu cricket in the Ranji Trophy.
Trained in the orthodox ways in a well-grounded State system in the sport, they have proved their skill and efficacy facing new ball bowlers and slow spin in India’s domestic competitions, accumulated runs embellished with centuries and fifties and turned out to be a big force.
In the limited chances they have got to play for India in Test match cricket, they have given glimpses of the ability to confront challenges at that level, but they flopped as an opening pair during the three Test series in the West Indies in 2011. On most occasions Vijay was the first leave the scene with India’s score — at first wicket fall — showing a pathetic 15, 0, 1, 26, 13 and 0 with fast bowler Ravi Rampaul playing havoc on the nerves of the right hander.
It’s upon them to repair the damage in the event of them getting an outside chance to open the innings in the four home Test matches each against England or Australia next year.
Experience counts
With the Virender Sehwag-Gautam Gambhir pair aggregating 2666 runs at a high 60.59 in home Test series (over all it is 4110 runs at 52.69), Sandeep Patil’s committee may not have to look at a new pair unless both Sehwag and Gambhir are declared indisposed due to injury or any other reason.
Experience will count against a seam attack that will come in the form of England’s James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Tim Bresan, Steven Finn, Graham Onions and Australia’s seam resources that could have any from the group of James Pattison, Ben Hilfenhaus, Mitchel Starc, Shane Watson, Pat Cummins and Mitchel Johnson.
But with left hander Shikhar Dhawan pulling out of the India ‘A’ team for the first practice game against England, Vijay and Mukund may open the proceeding at the Cricket Club of India (CCI), a venue where Vijay scored 87 in a Test match India won against Sri Lanka and obtained the No. 1 position in the ICC ranking three years ago.
Right from the time they stepped on the Golf Course Ground at Nashik on a mellow winter day five seasons ago in a Ranji Trophy league match against Maharashtra, settled down and proceeded to put on a massive 462 for the wickets in one ball short of 108 overs, the selectors have marked them as potential India openers; in fact Gambhir’s transgression against Watson and a one-match ban imposed by Match Referee Chris Broad resulted in Vijay leave the Ranji match against Maharashtra mid-way through and make his Test debut at Nagpur.
Vijay found his feet quickly and perhaps surprised the discerning. He made 33 on the first morning facing Brett Lee, Johnson and Watson, put on 98 for the first wicket with Sehwag and in the second innings played his part in India’ s thumping 172 runs win with an opening stand of 116 in which his contribution was 41 as against Sehwag’s 92.
It was a memorable start for him summoned from mundane proceedings in a town known for grapes and wine and to do some serious business in the Orange city.
He made way for Gambhir though and returned when opportunities arose to fill in vacancy either caused by the absence of Sehwag or Gambhir due to injury.
Two years ago he did score a fine 139 against Australia at Bangalore, but his unexpected failure in the West Indies has made him work hard and the form he has scored this season in the Irani Cup and Challenger series reflect his big appetite for runs.
Mukund was prolific scoring 911, 689, 1211 and 1057 in four successive seasons.
The left hander Mukund brings in flair and appeal. He made 25, 48 and 62 in the West Indies and 49 in the first innings of the Lord’s Test.
He had a poor India ‘A’ tour of the West Indies, but he made amends with superb performances against New Zealand ‘A’. Both Vijay and Mukund are in fine nick and they should be ready to take on the might of the England attack less than a week from now.
