Male Cricketer
Murali Vijay, born on April 1, 1984, is a former Indian cricketer known for his role as a right-handed opening batsman. He played a significant part in the Indian Test team until 2018 and represented Tamil Nadu in domestic first-class cricket. Notably, he was a member of the Indian squad that won the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy.
Vijay's cricket journey began with club cricket in Chennai at age 17. Despite initially struggling in youth and club tournaments, he steadily improved and made his first-class debut for Tamil Nadu in 2006. He quickly made a name for himself, becoming one of the top run-scorers in the 2006-07 Ranji Trophy, his maiden first-class season.
He earned his Test debut against Australia in November 2008, filling in for Gautam Gambhir who was banned. Vijay partnered with Virender Sehwag and showcased promising performances, earning praise for his technique. He played various Test matches and contributed notably, including his first Test century against Australia in 2010. He maintained a successful Test career with highlights such as a century against England and a strong series against Australia in 2013.
In the ODI format, Vijay debuted in 2010 against South Africa and participated in series against various teams. While he showed glimpses of his skills, he couldn't consistently secure a place in the limited-overs format.
Vijay's international T20 career was less successful, with a disappointing performance in the 2010 ICC World Twenty20, where he struggled to provide solid starts for India.
In early 2023, Vijay announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket. Throughout his career, he demonstrated his batting prowess and contributed significantly to the Indian cricket team's success, particularly in Test cricket.