New Delhi: In a startling revelation, India Test opener Murali Vijay said that he had carried on playing despite having a fractured wrist.
Vijay, who was ruled out of IPL due to the same wrist injury, revealed that he had fractured his wrist long ago and was playing the latter part of India’s prolonged home season braving pain.
"I don't want to get too much into the status of the injury but I was playing with a fractured wrist," Vijay told the New Indian Express.
Vijay, who has been the standout Indian opener for past couple of years stated that the injury limited his stroke play and restrained him from going for certain shotsbut he continued to play keeping the team’s interest mind.
"It was a difficult situation to be in, but the team always comes first ... I was not able to bat freely because, as the injury aggravated, I couldn't play certain shots and when I went out to bat, I had to grind it out. Especially against pacers, it was difficult at times to even defend off the front foot because it was my bottom hand that was injured."
India played 13 Tests in the recently concluded home season and Vijay was a part of 12 of those – missing one Test against Australia due to injury.
He scored 771 runs in 12 matches, only behind Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli.
"My body language might not tell you a real story all the time. I was in pain and it is not in my personality to show what I'm going through and gain sympathy. At the end of the day, I'm the one going through that and need to handle it on my own."
However, Vijay is confident of regaining full fitness within a month or two.
"I have already started my rehabilitation and hopefully, in a month or two, I should be able to pick up the bat again."