A nightmare that haunts Vijay Shankar

The moment when Dinesh Karthik hit a match-winning six off the last ball to etch a memorable victory for the nation, hopeless Vijay Shankar, was the first one who rushed and went to embrace his mentor, Karthik.

“I am not exaggerating, it was the most unforgettable moment of my life,” Vijay Shankar told in an interview given to the Indian Express while reminiscing the moments of Sunday’s T20 tri-series final in Colombo.

Shankar’s emotions were strung together by a melange of emotions where he felt a sense of glory along with a bitter tinge of dejection.

“I could have finished the game, but I soaked up many dot balls leaving my team under immense pressure,” he said.

“I was disappointed but there was a massive relief when DK sealed the final for us,” he added.

Also Read: Dinesh Karthik: An unsung hero

Asked to go up in the order, Shankar had the opportunity to make his mark and began on a positive note but he was unable to decode the feigned mastery of Mustafizur Rehman.

“I had earlier heard in commentaries about moments of immense pressure. My mind that evening was like a pressure cooker.”

“I am a practical person, but I am not able to get over this. Maybe I need to win a match for my country, then only I will be able to overcome it,” he added.

When Dinesh Karthik knocked at Shankar’s door to comfort him:

After reaching the hotel room, he locked himself in the room. He recalls the moment when Dinesh Karthik came to his room.

“I always look forward to his advice. He has helped overcome my nerves during the early days with Tamil Nadu,” he asserted.

“He asked me not be too harsh on myself. He said that brooding over such circumstances only bring distress. Those words lifted my morale a bit and I could sleep peacefully”

Light at the end of the tunnel:

He was quite impressive with the ball and he took the crucial wickets of Mushfiqur Rehman and Mahmudullah in India’s second game to get the Man of the Match award.

Down the line, Colombo might prove to be a turning point for Vijay Shankar. Nevertheless, he would be playing for the franchise of Delhi Daredevils in the eleventh edition of the Indian Premier League, that might be his road to glory.