VIJAY SHANKAR

A naturally versatile cricketer who has spent much of his career moving between roles, Vijay Shankar has built a reputation as a dependable middle-order all-rounder in Indian domestic and franchise cricket. The Tamil Nadu batter combines a strong range of strokes with right-arm medium pace, allowing him to contribute in multiple phases of a T20 match. His performances in domestic cricket earned him an India call-up in 2018, followed by his ODI and T20I debuts in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

Shankar's T20 career has included some of India's biggest franchise stages, most notably the IPL, where he has represented Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Daredevils, Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings. His most successful IPL campaign came with Gujarat Titans in 2023, when he scored 301 runs at a strike rate of 160.11, including a memorable 63* from 24 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders. His ability to accelerate in the middle and lower order has remained a key part of his T20 game.

There is an interesting tactical dimension to Shankar's game: he does not need to be a team's primary batter or frontline bowler to influence a match. His medium pace can provide useful overs when a captain needs a change-up, while his height and clean hitting allow him to attack spin and pace in the middle overs. That flexibility could make him a particularly useful piece of Dublin Guardians' T20 combination, especially when match-ups call for an extra batting or bowling option.