ICC World Cup 2019 | It’s not extra pressure, it’s extra responsibility to perform, says Vijay Shankar

Whatever role handed down to him by the team management, 28-year-old Vijay Shankar refuses to look at it as “extra pressure.” Instead, the all-rounder told reporters that he considers it as “extra responsibility.” Shankar was handed the ball as Bhuvneshwar Kumar got injured in the second half of the game against Pakistan and the all-rounder scalped his first World Cup wicket in the first ball itself. He is expected to deliver with the bat in the Indian middle-order as well.

“That pressure will always be there to deliver whatever the situation demands. So it’s not about how powerful I am because I’ve also played down the order. I’ve also got experience playing at numbers 6 or 7,” Shankar said during the pre-match press conference, reported Indian Express.

During Wednesday’s training session, Bumrah fired in a yorker that struck Shankar flush on the toes. It was a concern, then, whether he would recover in time for Saturday’s game. But, the all-rounder was subject a short fitness test on Friday, with a short run and some bowling under the supervision of physio Patrick Farhart and trainer Shankar Basu

Shankar, who made his World Cup debut against Pakistan, comes into the Afghanistan match with some confidence as he picked up two crucial wickets of Imam Ul-Haq and Sarfaraz Ahmed. At the press conference, he reminded everyone how important a factor confidence is. 

“Yeah, definitely, it gives any player some confidence because that is really needed for any individual. Last game gave me some confidence, and especially playing against Pakistan, making my debut against them,” the all-rounder explained.

“I know I can bowl a lot better than what I am bowling even now. I’m just working on my bowling. Whenever I get to a practice session, I make sure I improve a bit at least.”