Vijay Shankar can be a match winner for India in the future, claims Ashish Nehra

Vijay Shankar can be a match winner for India in the future, claims Ashish Nehra

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Ashish Nehra reckons that Vijay Shankar still has room for development to become a top all-rounder but added that he has the ability to be a match winner for India in the future. Shankar proved decisive in the last ODI win against Australia picking the last two wickets in the final over of the game.

Vijay Shankar has enjoyed some added game time with the Indian senior limited-overs team in the last two months or so. He came into the team in place of Hardik Pandya, who was suspended from the Australia tour after the whole Koffee with Karan fiasco. Shankar also featured frequently in the tour of New Zealand that followed and impressed with the bat in the limited-overs series win away from home.

However, former India pacer Ashish Nehra reckons that Shankar still has a lot to learn in order to be considered a total all-rounder. The former Delhi pacer said that Shankar and Pandya can feature in the Indian team but only if the former works harder on improving his bowling technique.

“It was really important for him, small things make a big difference and I still feel you cannot call Vijay Shankar an all-rounder. He can be your sixth or seventh bowling option, he is not as good as Hardik Pandya but definitely, he will get better with time.

“The more he will play, he will get better and he is entitled to improve. As a batsman there is no doubt about it that he has got some really good skill set and going forward Vijay Shankar can be a match-winner for India,” Nehra said in an interview with News18.

Vijay proved decisive in the second ODI win against Australia in Nagpur where he picked up the wickets of the last two Australian batsmen in the final over when Australia needed 11 runs to win the match. Chasing 251, Australia were 240 for eight when Shankar got the match-winning wicket of Aussie all-rounder Marcus Stoinis (52) on the very first ball of the 50th over followed by the dismissal of Adam Zampa on the third delivery to secure a win for the home team.

India now hold a 2-0 lead over visitors Australia in the five-match ODI series. The hosts will hope to seal another series win over their opponents when they play Aaron Finch & Co. in the third One-dayer in Ranchi on Friday.

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