“I was not getting that clarity”: Vijay Shankar explains move to Tripura from Tamil Nadu

Vijay Shankar is all set to play for Tripura in the upcoming domestic season, after receiving a NOC from the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association. Shankar has been one of the crucial players for Tamil Nadu, but in recent years, despite performing, he often found himself warming the bench. That lack of opportunities has led him to end his 13-year-long stint with the state team.

Speaking to The Hindu about this move, he said: “Sometimes, when you’re forced to take that call, you need to move on and look out for opportunities. I think I’ve been playing well. And more importantly, I want to play cricket, that’s it. I can’t go out there and just sit out and give water. It’s quite difficult after playing for so many years.”

The all-rounder also mentioned that there was no clarity around his selection, which he needed.

“Last year, I got dropped for the first two Ranji games, and then I made a comeback. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, again, I was dropped for the last two games. So, after that, it was quite tough. You need some clarity at some point. I was not getting that clarity,” Shankar added.

For Tamil Nadu, he played 70 Ranji matches, scoring 3702 runs and also picking up 43 wickets with the ball. Shankar sounded disappointed that his performances were overlooked.

“Even if you take the last three years, I think only in 2022 I batted at one batting position, I batted at No. 6 every game, and I got three consecutive hundreds. But after that, from No. 3 to No. 7, I batted everywhere. So, there’s no explanation to this (why he’s being sidelined). But I can say that all these things have made me a better cricketer today. It made me really tough. I was always in a position where I had to keep performing to prove things wrong,” he concluded.

Tamil Nadu head coach M. Senthilnathan, reacting to Shankar’s decision, heaped praise on his immense contribution to the state’s cricket over the years and wished him the best for his future.

“He has made immense contributions to TN cricket, and it is appreciated by one and all. Now that he has decided to move away from the State team, we will miss him and wish him the best. At the same time, we have a good talent pool. This now opens up a slot for some of the younger players to grab the opportunity and do well for the team,” he said.

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