“I am almost done with BCCI and looking for opportunities abroad,” says Murali Vijay
Murali Vijay, India’s senior hitter and former MS Dhoni colleague in Chennai Super Kings (CSK), made a harsh remark about the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), expressing his desire to return to cricket and considering alternatives abroad.
Well done Team India @BCCI . You can be proud of yourselves for the brand of cricket you’ve played . Well done boys !
Spl mention to @ImRo45 @imVkohli @hardikpandya7 🤟🏾and the bowlers @arshdeepsinghh @MdShami11 @BhuviOfficial pic.twitter.com/WVYDUEh2fE— Murali Vijay (@mvj888) November 11, 2022
The 38-year-old flashy batsman, who has played 61 Tests, 17 One-Day Internationals, and nine Twenty20 Internationals for India, last appeared in a Test against Australia in 2018. He didn’t score much in the match, though, as he was out for 0 and 20 in the first and second innings, respectively. Since then, he has been unable to find a place in the India camp. He last appeared for Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy in 2019. Vijay hasn’t played professional cricket since last year, when he competed in the Tamil Nadu Premier League.
In the IPL, Vijay scored 2,619 runs in 106 matches before leaving Chennai Super Kings in September 2020. He also played County Cricket in England for Essex following his Test omission and performed admirably.
Vijay has retired from the Tamil Nadu Premier League, but his desire to play competitive cricket has returned. His Test record says volumes about his batting ability, with 3928 runs in 61 outings for Team India.
“I am almost done with BCCI and looking for opportunities abroad. I want to play little bit of competitive cricket,” Vijay stated to WV Raman.
Vijay voiced his disappointment at not being given opportunities and stated that there is a need for a shift in attitude concerning a player’s age.
“After 30 in India, it’s a taboo. I think people see us as 80-year-olds walking on street. The media should also address it differently. I feel you are peaking in your 30s. Sitting here right now, I feel I can bat the best way I can. But unfortunately, the opportunities were less, and I had to search for chances outside. I honestly feel as a person, you can only do what’s in your hand. You can’t control the uncontrollable. Whatever happened happened,” he explained.
Murali’s comments came after the BCCI revealed India’s 17-man team for the forthcoming Border-Gavaskar Test series against Australia, which is set to begin on February 9.
