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Vijay's consistency a relief for India

Opener provides stability at the top of the order after tumultuous period for the home side

As a fascinating Test match unfolds at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, India will be relieved that they have Murali Vijay to bank on in the face of chaotic turmoil at the top of the batting order.

Vijay is the only opener to have an uninterrupted run in the seven home Tests so far this season as the selectors struggle to pick his partner due to injuries and lack of form.

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Except for Gautam Gambhir, who opened in the final Test against New Zealand and the first match of the current series against England in Rajkot, Vijay has had to deal with different partners in every home Test this season.

Lokesh Rahul began the home season as Vijay's partner in the first Test against the Black Caps in Kanpur, but a hamstring injury saw him being replaced by Shikhar Dhawan for the second match in Kolkata.

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Gambhir stepped in for the next two Tests as Dhawan too went out with a fractured thumb, but the left-hander's poor form saw Rahul return for the second Test against England in Visakhapatnam.

But when Rahul aggravated an injury to his left forearm prior to the third Test in Mohali, Parthiv Patel - himself a late replacement for wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha - was promoted as a makeshift opener.

In Mumbai, a fit-again Rahul was back to partner Vijay but the Karnataka batsman was clearly short of match practice. He was bowled by Moeen Ali for 24, beaten by the turn from outside the off-stump, and his dismissal meant India's best opening stand in the last seven Tests remained the 68 made in the first innings at Rajkot.

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It needed an unbroken century stand between Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara to calm Indian nerves as the hosts closed the second day at 1-146, still 254 runs behind England's first innings total of 400.

Vijay was unbeaten on 70, having made the most of a missed stumping by Jonny Bairstow when he was on 45, while the consistent Pujara was on 47 at stumps.

Vijay, who scored 126 in the first innings of the series before finding himself troubled by the short ball in the next two Tests, regained timely form on Friday with fluent strokeplay, including a six each off spinners Adil Rashid and Moeen.

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"For an opener, Vijay is a brilliant player of spin," gushed former England captain Nasser Hussain. "If India are to get a big lead, Vijay will need to go big."

The Wankhede pitch has baffled sceptics, for even though it provided substantial turn for the spinners from day one, the even bounce has allowed batsmen to play shots freely.

While 288 runs were scored on the first day for the loss of five wickets, the second day produced 258 runs and six wickets, indicating a good balance between bat and ball.

"It's a deceptive wicket," said Ravichandran Ashwin, whose 6-112 was his 23rd haul of five wickets or more in an innings in 43 Tests.

"It may look as if the ball is turning a lot, but batting is not difficult either."

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India are not safe yet considering they will have to bat fourth on what by then could be a devious turner, but wicketkeeper Patel was convinced the advantage lay with the hosts.

"I think we are in a very good position," said Patel. "I thought England were fortunate to get to 400.

"We should have got them out for less than 375. But 146-1 at the end of the day shows we are very well placed.

"Our spinners bowled much better on this wicket than what the England spinners are doing."

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