JOIN USOpener Murali Vijay today said he was determined to make up for the mistakes committed in the first Test as he steered India to a commanding position in the second match in company of Cheteshwar Pujara.
Vijay struck his second Test century, an unbeaten 129, and shared an unbroken 294-run partnership with Pujara (162).
"To be honest, pressure was there. I don't take things from outside. But I made mistake in the last Test. I should have finished the game in the second innings there. That (last game) hit me hard. I just wanted to stay at the wicket as long as possible. I didn't want to give my wicket away," Vijay told reporters when asked how it felt to score a century with career on line.
Vijay had scored 10 runs in the first innings of the Chennai Test and just 6 in the second when India were chasing 50 to win.
His 14-Test career has been a start-stop one but he didn't want to indulge in discussions as to whether this innings will give him the much required stability in the side.
"I don't know about that but I am really happy that my innings has helped the team big time," the 28-year-old Tamil Nadu lad said.
Asked whether this was the most defining innings in his international career so far, Vijay said, "Every innings at the international level is important. I was definitely pumped up to play the series."
About his unbroken 294-run partnership with Pujara, he said, "A partnership like this doesn't happen all the time. I must say Pujara batted really well."
About his partner’s injury, he assured that all is well. "It's just a muscle pull and he will be fine tomorrow."