Eyebrows were raised, questions were asked, and Twitter went into a frenzy when a certain Vijay Shankar was given the nod to bowl the final over in India's second ODI against Australia in Nagpur. With Australia needing 11 runs from the final six balls and Marcus Stoinis Still on the crease, it was indeed a massive decision given that he had conceded 13 runs in his only over earlier in the game.
Fortunately for the hosts, the gamble paid off with Shankar sending Stoinis back to the stands after getting him plumb in front of the wicket. The game was eventually put to bed when Adam Zampa was bowled off in the third delivery.
"It was an opportunity to redeem myself after the expensive over I bowled," Shankar told in an interview with Star Sports.
"I was literally waiting for this opportunity, wanted to bowl under pressure because only if I deliver, will they trust me. I was up for the challenge. Around the 43rd over, I was telling myself that I am bowling the final over and (have to) defend the score, just prepared myself a bit."
I thought I should be mentally ready to go and bowl and defend 10 runs an over. I was just clear about what I have to do. I think of things helped me when I came on bowl. I didn' t have pressure, to be honest," he added.
Ahead of the possible World Cup call, Shankar made his intentions quite clear even with the bat. Barring an unfortunate dismissal, the 28-year-old had forged a formidable partnership with skipper Virat Kohli by scoring 46 of 41 deliveries.
"It's about staying clear mentally. I wanted to just stick to the basics, hit the stumps from a hard length as there was a bit of reverse. When you play for the country, you have to be ready to do what the team needs. I always say to myself to keep working on all aspects of my game so that when the opportunity arrives, I am ready to grab it," Shankar said.
