Vijay Shankar has been selected by the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) as Cricketer-of-the-Year. The award will be officially announced and given away at the annual day function here on Thursday.
It was a season where the pace-bowling all-rounder emerged as a player who revelled in crisis situations for the State team in the Ranji Trophy. Vijay Shankar played a significant role in Tamil Nadu reaching the final.
The side was 50 for three in the first and 26 for three in the second innings of the quarterfinal against Vidarbha in Jaipur when Vijay Shankar came up with knocks of 111 and 82.
In the semifinals versus Maharashtra at the Eden Gardens, Vijay Shankar’s 91 revived Tamil Nadu’s innings after the side was on a worrying 90 for three.
Against the formidable Karnataka in the final at Mumbai, Vijay Shankar’s fighting second innings 103 enabled Tamil Nadu delay an inevitable defeat. Impressed by the quality of his teammate Murali Vijay’s batsmanship, he often seeks tips from the India opener.
Vijay Shankar, whose batting is easy on the eye, notched up 577 runs in seven Ranji games at 57.70 with two centuries and three fifties.
He held the middle-order together.
With the ball, the 24-year-old Vijay Shankar struck useful blows. An improving seamer, he claimed eight wickets at 33.62.
He grappled with a groin injury entering the season and then fractured the little finger of his right hand to miss games. Vijay Shankar emerged stronger from the ordeal.
The Chennai cricketer was rewarded with a place in the Rest of India squad for the Irani Trophy match against Karnataka.
Vijay Shankar is growing in stature and confidence.
