Indian opener Murali Vijay said he did not realise he had reached a fighting century in the second Gabba Test on Wednesday until he was told by his batting partner.
So fixated was Vijay on the job at hand that he did not register the fact that his flowing cover drive for four off Shane Watson had brought up his fourth Test hundred against Australia.
Vijay toiled for 332 minutes and faced 213 balls with 22 fours. He put on 124 with Ajinkya Rahane for the fourth wicket to help India to 311 for four at stumps on the first day.
It was not until Rahane told him and pointed to the scoreboard that it dawned on Vijay. He raised his bat in triumph after cruelly being out for 99 in the last Test in Adelaide.
"Actually, I was not aware of how much I was batting on," Vijay said.
"I was looking at the team score and batting and Ajinkya was the non-striker, he told me that I got a hundred.
"So that's when I realised. It's good in a way. I didn't want to see the score because I got out for 99 in the last game. It made up for it."
Asked where he rated his innings in his 29th Test, Vijay replied: "Satisfied, sir, I don't know how much, but I'm really happy."
He said he always enjoyed playing against Australia.
"Making runs against the best is always going to help you in the confidence level and as a person going forward."
Even though he comes from notoriously hot Chennai, Vijay said it was "mentally challenging" batting in the intense heat.
"We're in a good position, but the (Thursday) morning session is going to be very important for us," he added.
Source: AFP
