Vijay Shankar
Role: All-rounder (Right-hand bat, Right-arm medium)
DOB: 26 January 1991
IPL Team (2026): Unsold/Retired
Base Price: N/A (Last played 2023)
IPL CAREER STATISTICS (Updated April 2026)
Batting & Fielding
| Year | Mat | Inn | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s | CT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 62 | 60 | 10 | 1036 | 63* | 20.72 | 811 | 127.74 | 0 | 7 | 80 | 39 | 16 |
| 2023 | 10 | 10 | 2 | 234 | 63* | 29.25 | 158 | 148.10 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 10 | 2 |
| 2022 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 19 | 13 | 4.75 | 20 | 95.00 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2021 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 117 | 28 | 16.71 | 103 | 113.59 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 2 |
| 2020 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 97 | 52* | 19.40 | 85 | 114.11 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| 2019 | 15 | 15 | 1 | 244 | 40 | 17.42 | 200 | 122.00 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 10 | 5 |
| 2018 | 13 | 11 | 3 | 212 | 54 | 26.50 | 165 | 128.48 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 8 | 3 |
| 2017 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 101 | 63* | 33.66 | 69 | 146.37 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 5 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 12 | 12.00 | 11 | 109.09 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Bowling
| Year | Mat | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Avg | Econ | SR | 4W | 5W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 62 | 258 | 401 | 3 | 1/14 | 133.66 | 9.32 | 86.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 10 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2022 | 4 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2021 | 8 | 18 | 32 | 0 | 0/16 | – | 10.66 | – | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 0 | 0/13 | – | 13.00 | – | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 15 | 120 | 170 | 1 | 1/15 | 170.00 | 8.50 | 120.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 13 | 102 | 164 | 2 | 1/14 | 82.00 | 9.64 | 51.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | 4 | 12 | 22 | 0 | 0/11 | – | 11.00 | – | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
The Story of Vijay Shankar
Vijay Shankar, the Tamil Nadu all-rounder, burst onto the IPL scene with a reputation for being a “3D player” – capable with bat, ball, and in the field. Hailing from a cricketing family, Shankar’s journey was one of steady progression through the domestic ranks before earning his IPL stripes. His early appearances were sporadic, but it was his move to Delhi Daredevils in 2017 that truly showcased his potential. A blistering 63* off just 31 balls against Gujarat Lions, featuring a stunning array of strokes, announced his arrival as a serious middle-order threat.
Shankar’s playing style is characterized by his elegant, wristy batting, capable of finding gaps and clearing boundaries with equal ease. He possesses a solid technique against both pace and spin, often looking to build an innings before accelerating. With the ball, his right-arm medium pace offers useful variations, primarily focusing on cutters and slower balls to break partnerships or contain runs in the middle overs. While his bowling has been utilized less frequently in recent IPL seasons, his ability to chip in with a few overs remains a valuable asset.
His career has been a testament to resilience, often battling injuries that have hampered his consistency. Despite these setbacks, Shankar has consistently shown glimpses of the talent that led to his international call-up. His calm demeanor under pressure and ability to adapt to different match situations have made him a valuable, albeit sometimes underutilized, component of various IPL franchises. The 2023 season, in particular, saw a resurgence in his batting form, reminding fans of his destructive capabilities.
IPL Journey: Team by Team
Vijay Shankar’s IPL journey began quietly with Chennai Super Kings in 2014, where he played just one match. He then moved to Delhi Daredevils in 2017, where he had a breakthrough season, scoring 101 runs in 4 matches at an impressive strike rate of 146.37, including his then-highest score of 63*.
His strong showing led to him being picked up by Sunrisers Hyderabad for ₹1.9 crore in the 2018 auction. He spent four seasons with SRH (2018-2021), becoming a more regular feature in the playing XI. His 2018 season saw him score 212 runs and pick up 2 wickets, while 2019 was his most prolific with the bat, scoring 244 runs in 15 matches. However, his form dipped slightly in 2020 and 2021, often struggling for consistency and battling injuries.
In the 2022 mega-auction, Gujarat Titans acquired his services for ₹1.4 crore. His first season with GT was largely forgettable, playing only 4 matches and scoring 19 runs. However, he made a strong comeback in 2023, playing 10 matches and scoring 234 runs at a career-best strike rate of 148.10, including three half-centuries. Despite this strong finish, he was released by GT and remained unsold in subsequent auctions, indicating a potential end to his active IPL career by 2026.
What Makes Them Special: Betting Perspective
From a betting perspective, Vijay Shankar has been a player of high variance. His strengths lie in his ability to anchor an innings and then accelerate, particularly against pace, and his strong fielding. When in form, as seen in IPL 2023, he can be a valuable pick for ‘Top Batsman’ bets, especially on pitches that offer a bit for the pacers early on, allowing him to settle before unleashing his strokes. His knack for hitting crucial boundaries makes him a decent option for ‘Total Fours/Sixes’ if he’s batting higher up the order and has found his rhythm.
However, his weaknesses include a history of injuries that have affected his consistency and his strike rate can sometimes be a concern, especially when he struggles to find timing early in his innings. His bowling, while offering variety, hasn’t been a consistent wicket-taking option in the IPL, making ‘Total Wickets’ bets on him risky. Bettors should look for signs of current form and his batting position. He thrives when given a clear role and a longer run. Bet on him when he’s coming off good domestic performances or has shown recent IPL form, particularly on true batting surfaces where he can play his natural game. Bet against him if he’s returning from injury or struggling for a fixed spot in the XI, as his confidence and role clarity can significantly impact his output.
Key Records & Milestones
- One of only a few players to score a half-century and take a wicket in the same IPL match (vs. RR, 2019).
- Registered his highest IPL score of 63* twice (vs. Gujarat Lions, 2017 & vs. KKR, 2023).
- Part of the Gujarat Titans squad that won the IPL title in 2022.
- Achieved his career-best IPL batting strike rate of 148.10 in the 2023 season.
IPL Season Highlights
2023 Season (Gujarat Titans): This was a significant resurgence for Shankar. After a lean 2022, he bounced back with 234 runs from 10 matches at an impressive average of 29.25 and a blistering strike rate of 148.10. He smashed three half-centuries, including a magnificent 63* off just 24 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders, showcasing his power-hitting prowess and proving he could still be a match-winner for his team. This season was a strong reminder of his capabilities as a middle-order aggressor.
2017 Season (Delhi Daredevils): Though short, his stint with DD was impactful. In just 4 matches, he scored 101 runs at an average of 33.66 and a strike rate of 146.37. His standout performance was an unbeaten 63 off 31 balls against Gujarat Lions, a knock that was filled with elegant boundaries and powerful sixes, cementing his place as an exciting talent to watch.
2018 Season (Sunrisers Hyderabad): His first full season with SRH saw him contribute 212 runs in 13 matches at an average of 26.50, including a well-compiled 54 against Chennai Super Kings. He also chipped in with 2 wickets, demonstrating his all-round utility for the franchise as they reached the final.