CHENNAI: From the time he made international debut, Vijay Shankar’s performance has been closely monitored. The team wants to see him as an all-rounder, a breed India has struggled to unearth in the last few years. Hardik Pandya ticked this box, and when it came to looking for a back-up, the selectors zeroed in on Vijay, whose performance in that role in domestic cricket had been reasonable rather than spectacular.

That put pressure on him, because the role is demanding. And when he did get the chance, it came in a format which many thought he isn’t most suited to -- T20. Apart from the moment, he didn’t have much to take home from his debut series in Sri Lanka. But since then, when given a chance, he has shown glimpses of what he can bring to this Indian team.

Though he didn’t make a big score, his composure during the knock of 45 in the fifth ODI against New Zealand — helping India rebuild from 18/4 to a match-winning 252 — drew a lot of applause. “Very impressed with the way Vijay played in Australia and New Zealand. He showed lot of flair that he can bat at the highest level. He has responded well to the challenge. If he gets to bowl regularly, he can be a complete all-rounder. From what I have seen, he deserves a place in the World Cup squad,” said former national selector Venkatapathy Raju.

In the T20s against New Zealand, Vijay chipped in with handy contributions in two of the three matches. On Sunday in the last match, he top-scored with 43 and helped India lay a platform on which the middle-order failed to build.

At the same time, the team didn’t use his bowling abilities at all in the three T20s in New Zealand. Though his bowling may not be as penetrative as one expects at the top level, he can bowl a few overs if the situation demands. With World Cup looming, it seems India might be considering him primarily as a batsman. In that case, instead of competing for a spot with Pandya, he may have to vie with the likes of Ambati Rayudu, Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant.

“You have to play the role assigned to you by the team management. The think tank is trying to fill in slots for the World Cup. They are trying different players at different slots in different situations. Vijay looked confident and played the role allotted to him to perfection,’’ said former Indian opener Sadagoppan Ramesh.

Tamil Nadu’s chief selector S Sharath too feels Vijay has what it takes to contribute to the team’s cause and is fit for the formats he has been chosen for. “He has the ability to give his the best when the chips are down. He has all-round strokes and is a good striker of the ball. He is consistent with the ball and has the knack of picking up wickets. He is a strong contender for a slot in the World Cup squad.’’