India's Tour of Zimbabwe - An Opportunity for Murali Vijay

India embark on the tour of Zimbabwe with a second-string side. It's not even an India A side - it's a side that basically recognises the efforts of a few domestic fringe players. There's nothing much India can gain from this tour, hence there is an absence of a specialist wicket-keeper, a front-line fast bowler and there is a host of batsmen hovering around the 30-year-old mark. (Dhoni, Kohli Rested; Rahane to Lead)  

However, it's a momentous occasion for Murali Vijay, who marks a return to the ODI squad after a two-year long layoff.

From being an outcast in Indian cricket, to be called a 'captain's pet', to becoming India's most consistent Test batsman, Vijay has traversed the entire spectrum. Now, the 31-year-old opening batsman has found a place in India's One Day International squad to Zimbabwe. (Rahane 'Sincere, Hard-Working', Happy He's Captain: Sachin Tendulkar)

Back in 2013, the last time Vijay played for India in an ODI, he didn't even get a chance to bat. In Zimbabwe though, in absence of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan, he's India's first-choice opener. (Ravi Shastri an Elder Brother to Team India Players)

Primarily looked upon as a Test specialist, Vijay though isn't too surprised with the call-up. He has hit a purple patch with the bat in the longer format and has often been a reserve opener for India in the ODIs before Ajinkya Rahane doubled up for that role. (Bangladesh Daily Ridicules Team India)

However, being called-up for national duty in the blue uniform at the age of 31, doesn't really bother the right-hander from Tamil Nadu.

"Everybody is going to get old, but how fit you are and how consistent you are matter more to me", said Vijay in an interview with ESPNCricinfo.

In fact, the ex-Chennai Super Kings player looks up to a CSK veteran, Michael Hussey, for inspiration.

The current Kings XI Punjab player though, attributes his success to 'mental discipline'.

"It is just the way I apply myself in different formats", says Vijay.

Application has been the operative word in Vijay's renaissance. Once regarded as a flashy batsman with a loose technique, Vijay has made several changes in his game to become India's most trusted opening batsman. The improvement have been immense and the record - 10 fifties and six hundreds in 32 Tests - has spoken for the stylish right-hander.

His ODI career though, is yet to take off. In the 14 ODIs that he has featured, Vijay is yet to score a fifty.

After the decline of the Gambhir-Sehwag partnership, many touted the Tamil Nadu man to take over. However, the initial struggles and the failure to convert starts into big scores left Vijay in the cold.

Then the buck passed on to Dhawan and Sharma and the door was shut on Vijay.

Since the World Cup, things have changed a bit. Sharma has cemented his place as the number one opener but Dhawan's indifferent performances have left just enough room for someone like Vijay. Although Dhawan silenced the critics with his sparkling displays at the ICC event, his technique is still fragile against the moving ball.

Vijay doesn't have that problem, now. He is one of the most technically strong players in the Indian set-up and his in-built flair helps him to change gears whenever the need arises.

"If I get an opportunity to go and hit from ball one, I would do it if I were in that zone. It is not that I'm curbing my instincts. But you have to consider the situation and play accordingly", says Vijay.

At 31, this might be his last opportunity to get a foot in the door in the limited overs format and Vijay knows it as well, hence he wants to make this opportunity count.

"The challenge is if I get a start, I want to make it big. I am not looking back and saying it was a very bad experience", concluded the man from Chennai.