Indian selectors face the wrath for excluding Murali Vijay from the Test squad

Indian selection panel led by MSK Prasad axed Murali Vijay and Kuldeep Yadav for the last two Tests against England in the ongoing series. Team India lost the first two games and made a stunning comeback in the third Test. Vijay got a chance in the XI in first two Tests and failed to create the impact which further resulted in his axing from the XI in the third Test. Selectors considered Prithvi Shaw as the opener for the last two openers in the finalised squad.

0, 0, 6, 20 – The Indian opener’s scores in the ongoing Test series against England tell the real story behind his axing. He failed to read the swing and seam of English pacers and conceded his wickets all the four times for cheap scores. However, he was picked as the main opener but the other two openers in Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul did comparatively well.

The expectations on Murali Vijay were high when he came into the England tour on the back of a brilliant ton against Afghanistan back in June at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. However, his scores in away tours in this calendar year are not promising as he just scored one fourty-plus score in the 10 innings he played in South Africa and England.

His replacement Prithvi Shaw had decent outings in first-class cricket as he averages 56.72 in the format with seven centuries and five half-centuries. His recent scores of 188 against Windies A, 62 against England Lions and 136 against South Africa A gave him a spot in the national Test team. With India’s current opening pair looking solid, Shaw isn’t expected to make his debut at the Rose Bowl in Southampton in the fourth Test.

Prithvi Shaw’s inclusion will surely bring pressure on the current opening duo. The failed opener in the fourth Test may pave his way to the in-form youngster. With Murali Vijay’s exclusion from the team, some of the Indian fans weren’t impressed as they lashed out at the Indian selectors.

Here’s how they reacted:

Is that the end of Murali Vijay’s international career? It does seem so if you go by the fact that he has been completely left out even as Karthik is retained

— Chandresh Narayanan (@chand2579) August 22, 2018

If Murali Vijay doesn't play another Test he will be the fourth opening batsman to bag a pair in his last Test after Trevor Bailey, Farokh Engineer and Keith Stackpole. #ENGvIND https://t.co/KJcDe3aWnF

— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) August 22, 2018

So Murali Vijay is dropped. Wouldn't call it harsh though. Was going through a rough patch for a long time. However you wouldn't want it to happen in the middle of the series.
Prithvi Shaw? Might not play. But will definitely get a feel of being in the Indian Team#ENGvIND

— Chandler Bing (@SarcasmChamp) August 22, 2018

Dropping murali vijay is a bad move and two bad tests and dropping him😠
When some players get more 5 chance and perform
Why not him @BCCI @mvj888

— hari prasanth jhp (@imhari_77) August 23, 2018

Vijay’s ouster rather interesting..somewhat disappointing.
Scored a ton vs AFG. Two back to back tons vs SL at home.
Everyone failed (except Kohli) in SA and the first Two Tests here. Don’t know how he gets back for Aus…end of a career? Hope not. #EngvInd

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) August 22, 2018

Tough on Murali Vijay but probably the correct decision considering his form. Lest we forget, he was our only player, in 2014, who stood against this English lineup and got some respectability to scorecards where Kohli et al. have failed miserably. Comeback stronger, brother!

— Sharath Sathu (@sharathsathu) August 23, 2018

Murali Vijay is not in the squad am I reading right??? @BCCI on which basis it happened??? Then why you didn't pick Mohd Siraj in place of Umesh Yadav or Shardul Thakur and where is Mayank Agarwal #SelectionCommiteeIsSameAsViratsXI @cricketaakash @vikrantgupta73 @MSKPrasad5

— Mohammad Arham (@Arham_0798) August 23, 2018

Murali Vijay should have played in Trent Bridge. Would have been better than both Dhawan & Rahul, based on 2014 scores. #IndvsEng @imVkohli I think Indian team in need of a better coach like Anil Kumble or Sourav Ganguly @BCCI

— Abinav S Murthy 🇮🇳 (@AbinavMurthy) August 23, 2018

Wrong to drop Murali Vijay and Kuldeep Yadav middle of series! Allow them with permission to play county cricket @BCCI @RaviShastriOfc https://t.co/Z8fL03jiEV

— Vijayashankar 💙 (@vjshankar) August 23, 2018

It came as a huge surprise to see that Murali Vijay & Kuldeep Yadav were dropped for the final 2 tests v England. Youngsters, under 19 world cup winning captain & opener, 18 years old Prithvi Shaw & 24 years old prolific scorer in domestic cricket, Hanuma Vihari were selected.

— Ram (@ram574) August 23, 2018

Looks like we've seen the last of Murali Vijay. He played a vital role in a few of our memorable wins. Sad to see him go like this. https://t.co/SVhUJkABY2

— Balaji Srinivasan (@bimbilaki) August 22, 2018

So basically BCCI has made a statement that it is all over for Rohit in White's and Murali in his Life…
Time to say goodbye to both of them…👋👋👋
End of Chapter called Murali Vijay….@ImRo45 @mvj888 @BCCI #INDvENG #ENGvIND

— Sujith Kolap (@KolapSujith) August 22, 2018

Feel for Murali Vijay and shocked for Mayank Aggarwal. Why he doesn’t pick up? What is the criteria for selection? How many 💯 require to be selected in the squad? What kind of message they spreads? #INDvENG

— Mahinwal (@itsmahinwal) August 22, 2018