Indian cricket has always struggled to produce elite fast-bowling all-rounders, with the likes of Vijay Shankar and Shardul Thakur failing to do much at the international level. However, after Thakur’s sizzling knock against the Royals Challengers Bangalore (RCB), it was Shankar, who reminded everyone of his potential with his onslaught against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the slog overs.
Gujarat Titans (GT) received some impetus later in their innings to reach a mammoth total of 204/4 against KKR at the Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday afternoon. The charge was led by the unexpected blitzkrieg knock from Vijay Shankar who emerged out of the blue to showcase his shotmaking prowess which was explosive enough to keep even David Miller quiet on the other end in his three-ball stay.
The all-rounder from Tamil Nadu saved his best for last as the Titans capitalized on KKR’s unusual choice to give the last over to Shardul Thakur instead of Umesh Yadav, a move that cost the visitors 20 runs.
Vijay Shankar got the strike on the second ball of the over and wasted no time in connecting the ball well as Thakur bowled a slow and wide delivery. However, the bowler did not have the same fortune on the succeeding deliveries as his counterpart’s destruction began with a clean strike over deep midwicket off a full and slightly wide delivery, arguably the shot of the day.
Having thus brought up his half-century off just 21 deliveries, Vijay Shankar seemed to further grow in confidence and dispatched the next delivery over long-on with timing befitting of Gods. The 32-year-old wasn’t done yet as he finished off the saga with another strike over wide long-on albeit it only just made it over the rope the third time around. Even in the 19th over by Lockie Ferguson, Shankar helped GT to score 25 runs with the help of couple of boundaries and a six.
Here is the video of the onslaught from Vijay Shankar:
Vijay Shankar eventually ended unbeaten on 63 off 24 deliveries, laced with four boundaries and five maximums, thereby sending the Twitterati berserk.
Vijay Shankar smashed lord shardul for 3 sixes in a row. #GujratTitans
— Masala Dose – ಮಸಾಲೆ ದೋಸೆ (@DosaSpeaks) April 9, 2023
It's impossible to stop vijay shankar form in wc year😂pic.twitter.com/YwzcjtVeFL
— 82off53 (@trishank_vk) April 9, 2023
Vijay shankar to shardul : Thank you anna nee valla 4 ipls lo kanidi okka over lo vachindi… pic.twitter.com/MB051ovHQ5
— Don Stranger (@aaparichituudu) April 9, 2023
Vijay Shankar performing well in World Cup year pic.twitter.com/epUZ9c67DW
— Beast (@Beast_xx_) April 9, 2023
What is this season of #IPL2023
The other day ShardulThakur, yesterday AjinkyaRahane, today VijayShankar
Redeemption season of all 😭
All of them striking at nearly 200+ 😂😂
— 👑Dhruvin Panchamia💖👑 (@Dhruvin_04) April 9, 2023
Ab ye vijay shankar kb se pelne lga#GTvsKKR
— British Meena (@UrsBritish) April 9, 2023
Vijay Shankar la 50 adikuran .. Ungalku ena da kedu @ishankishan51 @surya_14kumar 🚶🏻 pic.twitter.com/fqdJGHuHLV
— Dustin ツ (@Dustin_Vj) April 9, 2023
Hahah cup vijay shankar uthayega😂
— ⓡⓐⓝⓙⓗⓐ 🇺🇸 (@MundafromUsa121) April 9, 2023
Bhai Mano ya na Mano… Vijay Shankar ko itna bada batsman banane k peeche apna KKR ka hi haath hai🙈
— Jayant Kumar (@TweetOfJayant) April 9, 2023
bhai kya pitai kri vijay shankar ne ye banda nhi solo vs squard hai vijay vs kkr 🐐
— Ṩhͥนbͣhͫ (@shubhxdead) April 9, 2023
