Test Recall Unlikely for Shikhar Dhawan, Doors Still Open for Murali Vijay: Reports

It is reported the Test recall is unlikely for India’s southpaw opener Shikhar Dhawan. The left-hander had scored only 162 runs in the eight innings on the England tour. Thus, he could not prove his mettle while playing in the overseas conditions. However, Dhawan was the leading run-getter in the recently concluded Asia Cup. Dhawan was the Player of the series as he had scored 342 runs in the multi-nation tournament.

On the other hand, doors are still open for Murali Vijay. The flamboyant right-hander had failed to impress on the England tour as he scored only 26 runs in the first two Test matches. Vijay was dropped for the third Test match. Furthermore, he didn’t find a place in the squad for the last two Test matches.

Vijay was able to return back to form in County cricket.

Meanwhile, Vijay was able to get his Midas touch back while playing for Essex in the County Championship. The stylish right-hander scored a fifty in his first innings and then went on to score a hundred in the second innings. However, despite good performances, he was also overlooked for the two-match Test series against the Windies.

“After Vijay failed in the second Test, Dhawan was told that he was going to get a free hand in the rest of the three Tests as the team management and selectors believed he could be an asset up in the order as he could dominate any attack. But he was also told that if he couldn’t perform, then a call would be taken on his Test future. He could still continue playing red-ball cricket in domestic cricket but it’s time some other person was tried to open the batting,” a source was quoted as saying by TOI.

Shikhar Dhawan hasn’t shown the right promise while playing in the overseas conditions in the red ball version. On the other hand, Murali Vijay’s form in the International arena hasn’t been impressive in the recent past.

However, the Tamil Nadu batsman was the third highest run-getter in the previous tour of Australia in 2014. Murali Vijay had scored 482 runs in the last tour which might help him get back into the squad. Moreover, he should make sure he is making the right noises in the domestic circuit in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy.