Murali Vijay: 'Happy to be playing cricket again'

During the recent India tour of West Indies, Murali Vijay played only one innings before a thumb injury and rain prevented him from participating further in the series.

Murali Vijay played a composed innings of 65 on day one of the first Test.

Murali Vijay, after finishing as India’s top-scorer in the first innings of the first Test against New Zealand here, expressed his happiness in playing cricket for India again.

Read: >Kiwi bowlers dominate as India ends Day 1 at 291/9

In West Indies, Vijay was ruled out of the second and third Test after he sustained a thumb injury. In the fourth Test, rain prevented the opener from taking further part in the series.

After India chose to bat on a surface that is supposed to support batsmen, Vijay played a composed innings of 65, that was cut short by a misjudged cut shot.

On his dismissal

It was just a bad shot selection and I can really work on that and put up a better show in the second innings.

On the day’s play

We are in a good position, we have put runs on the board. What we have got to do now is go there and put pressure on them. It’s a good total to play around with.

On plans for second day

The wicket is on the slower side and it is going to be difficult to score runs that is what I have experienced on the first day, so it’s going to be difficult for them as well with the quality of (Ravichandran) Ashwin and (Ravindra) Jadeja in the side. It’s going to be a good day for us, hopefully.

On India’s dismissals

We got out to loose shots and the wicket was deteriorating as well, so we really got to be patient on this wicket, it’s a lesson learnt and hopefully we can put up a better show in the second innings.

On Rohit Sharma getting out, after trying to attack

That’s his area, when it comes out good, it looks good. When it doesn’t you fall on the wrong side. We still got to back our instincts. At the end of the day, we are playing sports where you go to win matches rather than just participate in it. Whatever has got you here, you got to back that.

On New Zealand’s bowling

I would say they had a good attack. According to situation, we got to make a play out of it. We knew this is going to be plan, we were well prepared for it. We could have capitalized a bit more after tea.