Vijay Shankar - A potential middle-order batsman for India - in ODIs and Tests

[dani2k]

Vijay drew a lot of flak unfairly because he couldn't perform up to expectations on the Nidahas trophy final. But what the critics failed to take into account was that it was his FIRST international batting inning.

With that context in mind, he did a stellar job yesterday when he repaired the Indian inning coming in at 18/4. Apart from his solid technique, what was in display was his temperament. He got out unfortunately because of a communication gap, but by that time he had shown to the world that he has it in him to perform at the top level.

I will mark him for a middle order slot starting from #4 to 6 in the Indian ODI team once the 2019 WC is over (who knows he could be a prime back up candidate for this WC as well).

Additionally, he could be a like to like replacement to Vihari with his part-time seam bowling if conditions suit. I think he has the technique to play the #6 in tests. With the Indian test attack now settled, we need a batsman who could provide some respite to our bowlers on a need basis and that is how Vihari is being looked upon now. Why not Shankar?

 

[dani2k]

Mods, please change the title to - 'potential middle order candidate' ..I missed the candidate pit. Thanks a lot

 

[dani2k]

Again yesterday was his first batting innings in an ODI. Considering the pressure he would have been because of his previous failure and the team position yesterday, you need to doff your hat off at the player.

 

[TNAmarkFromIndia]

Imagine a time when we play 3 pace-bowling all rounders — Vijay Shankar, Shivam Dubey and Hardik Pandya.

 

[Hyperion66]

OP may be right, I dunno, but there is something in his technique and body language that just doesn't inspire confidence, anyways agree with OP that could be used as a back up for Vihari.

 

[dani2k]

Imagine a time when we play 3 pace-bowling all rounders — Vijay Shankar, Shivam Dubey and Hardik Pandya.

Shankar and Dubey are strictly medium pacers and the next WC is going to be in India where three of them could be an overkill. But we are getting ahead of ourselves as Shankar is still finding his feet and Dubey hasn't even played in IPL.

 

[TNAmarkFromIndia]

Shankar and Dubey are strictly medium pacers and the next WC is going to be in India where three of them could be an overkill. But we are getting ahead of ourselves as Shankar is still finding his feet and Dubey hasn't even played in IPL.

Imagine a middle order with Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan and Rishabh Pant, the biggest six-hitters in domestic cricket.

 

[Mann Bharya]

Imagine a middle order with Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan and Rishabh Pant, the biggest six-hitters in domestic cricket.

Is Iyer really a big hitter? Certainly doesn't seem like one.

 

[dani2k]

Imagine a middle order with Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan and Rishabh Pant, the biggest six-hitters in domestic cricket.

Agreed, our next WC squad looks very exciting indeed - atleast from the batting front. I see only Rohit and Kohli playing the next WC from our existing batters. Shreyas is a good middle order pick - he can bowl a bit of leg spin too and at home that is a nice advantage to have as well.

 

[yuvi]

Shankar showed some good ability of handling seam and swing which our batsmen lack apart from Kohli. Can be a very good option in the middle order in NZ test series.

 

[Mueez]

Imagine a time when we play 3 pace-bowling all rounders — Vijay Shankar, Shivam Dubey and Hardik Pandya.

That would be too many ‘bits and pieces’ players in the Indian team.

 

[Romali_rotti]

Imagine a middle order with Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan and Rishabh Pant, the biggest six-hitters in domestic cricket.

Shreyas Iyer is pure FLAT TRACK BULLY THROUGH and THROUGH, the minute the ball bounces above feet level he struggles...

 

[TNAmarkFromIndia]

Is Iyer really a big hitter? Certainly doesn't seem like one.

His performance in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2018:

Innings: 6
Runs: 373
Not Outs: 2
Average: 93.25
Strike Rate: 108.43
Sixes: 22

And in the following Deodhar Trophy:

Innings: 3
Runs: 199
Not Outs: 0
Average: 66.33
Strike Rate: 113.71
Sixes: 9

 

[TNAmarkFromIndia]

Shreyas Iyer is pure FLAT TRACK BULLY THROUGH and THROUGH, the minute the ball bounces above feet level he struggles...

That's why they should send players to play domestic cricket overseas. Instead of playing Vijay Hazare Trophy or Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy, they should play the domestic one-day tournament in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and/or England to test them further apart from the 'A' tours. Maybe BCCI should come to a mutual understanding with the respective boards to let a select few players play in their tournaments.

 

[JattMaula]

Shankar showed some good ability of handling seam and swing which our batsmen lack apart from Kohli. Can be a very good option in the middle order in NZ test series.

I wouldn't mind him as a batter in ODI and test middle order.

But he shouldn't be considered an all-rounder. He should be judged primarily on batting with some useful part time line and length trundling.

 

[yuvi]

I wouldn't mind him as a batter in ODI and test middle order.

But he shouldn't be considered an all-rounder. He should be judged primarily on batting with some useful part time line and length trundling.

Check his FC batting record. It's good enough to be considered a pure batsman. His bowling is bonus. Can be useful in seaming swinging conditions in NZ.

 

[latecut]

Please do got get excited about domestic players based on their domestic exploits. In Indian domestic cricket, even 125 kmph trundlers often take truckloads of wickets. Vijay Shankar and Shivam Dubey are trundlers who bowl at around 125 kmph. In fact, last year's bowling hero Rajnish Gurbani too bowls at the same pace. Just because they take so many wickets in domestic cricket does not make them fit for international cricket.

 

[big_gamer007]

His bowling is extremely mediocre.. He's like Anwar Ali, bilawal bhatti of India.

 

[dani2k]

Point taken on the bowling front. That is why the recommendation to consider him as a middle order bat who can contribute a few overs - a la Kedhar Jadhav. No way can he be a replacement to Hardik with those speeds.

In test matches he and Vihari can play a similar role based on conditions.

He needs to be kept away from T20Is. His game doesn't suit that format and we have others to do the job there.

 

[yuvi]

Please do got get excited about domestic players based on their domestic exploits. In Indian domestic cricket, even 125 kmph trundlers often take truckloads of wickets. Vijay Shankar and Shivam Dubey are trundlers who bowl at around 125 kmph. In fact, last year's bowling hero Rajnish Gurbani too bowls at the same pace. Just because they take so many wickets in domestic cricket does not make them fit for international cricket.

He batted well in seaming, swinging conditions which no other Indian batsman apart from kohli has done recently. Can be considered as a pure batsman. I don't rate him much as a bowler but that's not becoz of his speed. Sam Curran bowling at similar speed gave plenty of trouble to our batsmen in England. In helpful conditions he can be a decent back up bowler.

 

[jnaveen1980]

He is a batsman who can bowl balls that absolutely does nothing.

 

[troodon]

Vijay Shankar will be a passenger in the team. He struggles to hit big shots and his bowling is mediocre. He at best can bat like Dhoni who himself is a liability in the team. I would rather have Pant over this Shankar.

India messed up their middle order by not trying out enough options. They have persisted with the likes of Rayadu, Jadhav, Karthik and now this Shankar. All of them are duds.

India did a huge mistake by not trying out Gill and Shaw and Pant 6 months earlier in familiar Indian conditions first. Now its too late. I feel that Rayadu is a better middle order batsman than Shankar.

 

[yuvi]

Vijay Shankar will be a passenger in the team. He struggles to hit big shots and his bowling is mediocre. He at best can bat like Dhoni who himself is a liability in the team. I would rather have Pant over this Shankar.

India messed up their middle order by not trying out enough options. They have persisted with the likes of Rayadu, Jadhav, Karthik and now this Shankar. All of them are duds.

India did a huge mistake by not trying out Gill and Shaw and Pant 6 months earlier in familiar Indian conditions first. Now its too late. I feel that Rayadu is a better middle order batsman than Shankar.

Gill, Pant have been tried and we have seen hoe they fared. We can fill out team with FTBs but we will be embarrassed like the 4th ODI when the ball does a bit. In England ball can swing in overcast conditions. We need one more solid batsman other than Kohli. Rayudu scored more runs but rode his luck initially. Shankar looked way more solid.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Gill, Pant have been tried and we have seen hoe they fared. We can fill out team with FTBs otherwise we will be embarrassed like the 4th ODI when the ball does a bit. We need one more solid batsman other than Kohli. Rayudu scored more runs but rode his luck initially. Shankar looked way more solid.

Agarwal was never ever considered since he si an opener. So was Shaw as he was an opener too. Pant after his success in Tests, looks very different. I would still keep him in the radar.

 

[TNAmarkFromIndia]

Vijay Shankar will be a passenger in the team. He struggles to hit big shots and his bowling is mediocre. He at best can bat like Dhoni who himself is a liability in the team. I would rather have Pant over this Shankar.

Vijay Shankar was the top scorer for India 'A' in the New Zealand tour last year and scored 188 runs in 3 matches at a strike rate of 105.02

 

[rhony]

He looked good and infact better than Rayudu in the last game but don't get carried away. This guy was a massive choker not too long ago in Nidahas and couldn't put bat to ball. His massive ego almost lost India the game in the last over. Instead of rotating the strike he kept hitting thin air. His bowling is atrocious and he can't be an allrounder. England will score more than 80 runs in his 6 overs of 125 back of the length crap.

 

[JattMaula]

He looked good and infact better than Rayudu in the last game but don't get carried away. This guy was a massive choker not too long ago in Nidahas and couldn't put bat to ball. His massive ego almost lost India the game in the last over. Instead of rotating the strike he kept hitting thin air. His bowling is atrocious and he can't be an allrounder. England will score more than 80 runs in his 6 overs of 125 back of the length crap.

We can't judge player on single inning as you said. So give him some benefit of doubt for that Nihadas inning which btw was T20.

His bowling is worse than crap.

 

[dani2k]

Glad to see the lad grabbing his chances - he now looks to have sealed a spot for the middle order backup role in the WC squad.

His bowling is a bonus and should strictly be considered likewise. Though he could play the role Steve Waugh played for Australia.

The biggest trait he seems to have is an unflappable temperament which is such a refreshing site to see in someone so inexperienced. Way to go lad!