A tall, solid opening batsman, M Vijay was an instant success in his debut Ranji season with Tamil Nadu, finishing as the third-highest run-getter with 628 runs in seven games at a 50-plus average. His half-century on debut was a sign of things to come, as he followed it up with 179 against Andhra in his home ground and rounded off the season with 277 runs in the Ranji one-dayers, finishing second in the run charts for his state. He shrugged off an ordinary start to the 2007-08 season with an unbeaten double hundred against Saurashtra and almost matched his exploits from the previous season, boosting his selection for the Duleep Trophy. He carried on his good form to the one-day tournament, averaging an impressive 51 in seven matches, pushing his selection in a fringe Indian squad for a short tour of Israel.

Vijay was picked for the India A squad to face New Zealand A in two Tests at the start of the 2008-09 season, and scored 200 runs in four innings. Included in the India Red team for the Challenger Trophy, he finished as the tournament's second-highest run-getter. He carried that form into the first game of the Ranji Trophy, with 243 against Maharashtra. With Gautam Gambhir facing a one-Test ban, Vijay was called up as cover for the fourth Test against Australia in Nagpur. The next day he was included in the squad for the first three ODIs against England.
Kanishkaa Balachandran November 2008

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Nov 9, 2008 M Vijay crunches the ball through the off side © Getty Images

Nov 8, 2008 M Vijay is mobbed by his team-mates for helping dismiss Michael Hussey © AFP

Nov 6, 2008 M Vijay sways out of the way of a bouncer © AFP

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