India all-rounder Vijay Shankar, who was picked up ahead of Ambati Rayudu in the 2019 ICC World Cup squad, has seen a rough patch since then. Later, his knee injury ruled him out of the team and eventually out of the radar too. And now, there are several players ready to take his place in the playing eleven as well.
Having made his debut for India in 2018, the road wasn’t easy for him to keep his place intact in the Indian team but he tried his best. He had played only 3 World Cup matches and his hamstring injury saw him out of most of the games in IPL 2020 as well.
However, he did well this season for Sunrisers Hyderabad before the tournament got suspended midway due to Covid-19 cases in several franchises in the bio-bubbles as well. While speaking to indiatoday.in, Vijay Shankar revealed that recurring injury concerns aren’t easy to deal with, as it hampers his progress.
“It was very difficult, definitely. But if you ask me, from the time I got dropped from the Indian team, it was very difficult. I had another injury and then I was not even closer to getting into the Indian side after that. But if you see the time I was with the Indian team, I had a decent run. I was contributing in whatever batting order, whatever situation it was,” Shankar said.
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“But on the other side, if you see, definitely injuries have played a big part in my career. I don’t see that as something which I can justify, saying I could have done better if I had been fit. I don’t think that is fair to say. Injuries are bound to happen for sportsmen. It’s about pushing myself harder every day. These things are part of my journey. A lot of negativity creeps in when you’re injured. ‘Whether I will be able to come back? When will I play next?’.
Every time, when I have a hamstring injury, there will be a small doubt in whatever you do – ‘What if I get that back again?’. But I have always pushed myself harder for the best I can give. The rehab, whatever the small things I do, I will give my best because that’s the only thing I have in my control,” he further added.
Meanwhile, Vijay Shankar also added that he is working hard to return to the Indian set up but he also admitted that this is not in his hand.
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“I can’t think of getting into the Indian side, those things are not in my hand. All I can do is prepare hard and try and do well in the matches that I play. I will try to push for that place again. Definitely, whoever has played for that country would love to wear that jersey again. There is no doubt about that. I just felt that when I had a decent run and I was not even considered after that, it was a little disappointing,” Vijay Shankar concluded.
