JOIN USAfter waiting in the wings for four matches, the right-arm bowler finally got his chance as the team think-tank decided to keep an out-of-sorts Zaheer Khan out of their scheme of things in the crucial encounter.
Vinay was tipped to be included in the final eleven against Australia when Praveen Kumar was ruled out of the tournament with an abdominal muscle tear, but skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni went with an extra batsman.
The Jharkhandi went with the same team combination against the West Indies and there was no change in India’s fortune.
Against Lanka, however, the team management decided to effect three changes and Vinay was one of the beneficiaries of the move. Vinay’s inclusion was nothing more than the reward he deserved.
A consistent performer in the domestic cricket, Vinay and Mithun, had caught the eye of the selectors with a bagful of wickets this season.
Vinay emerged the highest wicket-taker in the country in first-class cricket with 56 scalps, one more than his State-mate Mithun.
While Mithun, who was included in the Test squad against South Africa, went on to play a one-dayer in the same series in Ahmedabad, Vinay kept his fingers crossed.
While Vinay missed out against South Africa, the genial bowler got his first big break when the national selectors included him in the 30 probables for the World T20.
The 26-year-old from Davangere then impressed everyone in the Indian Premier League where he bagged 16 wickets for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, forcing his way into the Indian squad.