Vijay Shankar scored an unbeaten 106 off 165 balls, hitting 9 fours and 4 sixes, to help Tamil Nadu secure a draw on the final day of their third-round Ranji Trophy match against Chhattisgarh at the Sri Ramakrishna College ground on Tuesday.
Gujarat Titans’ player Vijay Shankar’s innings helped Tamil Nadu overcome the 241-run deficit after following on, denying Chhattisgarh an outright win.
Vijay Shankar’s absence from the last two matches sparked plenty of discussion. Tamil Nadu’s coaches and selectors claimed he was rested due to an injury and to manage his workload for the long season. However, since Vijay took the field as a substitute in both games and declared himself fully fit, it felt more like he had been dropped than rested.
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Both Vijay and Tamil Nadu needed a strong performance, with the team battling to avoid a home defeat. Rising to the occasion, Vijay delivered with an unbeaten 106.
“It’s not about being relieved. It’s about how much I have worked hard for this,” Vijay said of the animated celebration. “It was not easy to sit out for two games especially when you know you are playing well, bowling well and your body is good, “Vijay said after scoring a century.
What lies ahead for Vijay Shankar in IPL?
As the IPL retention deadline approaches, it appears that Vijay Shankar will be released by the Gujarat Titans. He joined the team in 2022 and has played 25 matches but has not met performance expectations. Although the 33-year-old last represented the national team in 2019, which would make him eligible for retention as an uncapped player for the upcoming season, he is still likely to be let go.
However, his recent century against Chhattisgarh could enhance his prospects in the IPL 2025 auction. This could be a chance for him to get back to his best, which might make other franchises interested in picking him in the auction.
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