For Murali Vijay.

This will be the first test that Murali Vijay will play with Gautam Gambhir. The two tests before this, Vijay played thanks to Gambhir’s elbow and sister. Also, those two tests Vijay opened the batting with Sehwag. This time, Vijay will bat in the middle order, unless of course Gambhir does him another favour.

Usually there’s this slotting of players – opener will only open, and if a middle order slot is vacant (as with VVS’ finger going AWOL) then a middle order player takes over – here it could’ve meant either Rohit Sharma or Dinesh Karthik being given a shot. Thankfully not so.

Vijay, now here’s what you do: If you make it to 87, as you did last month in Mumbai, try not to play across, go straight for that 100.


On Bored: Look (M Vijay again)