✦ Celebrity stories, facts and career updates. Explore F4U now →

Home › Biography › Murali Vijay (Cricketer)

Murali Vijay (Cricketer) biographyFeatured Biography

Image source: StarsUnfolded

Athletes

Murali Vijay (Cricketer) Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth1 April 1984

Age41 Years

BirthplaceChennai, Tamil Nadu, India

ProfessionIndian Cricketer (Batsman)

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseNikita Vijay

FamilyDaughter - Iva; Son - Nirav; Sister - 1; Parents - Not Known

Murali Vijay (Cricketer) Biography

Right-handed Indian batsman Murali Vijay built a Test-focused international career highlighted by strong performances in Australia, a long domestic and IPL

Early life and background

Murali Vijay was born on 1 April 1984 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He grew up in Chennai and later attended Vivekananda College in Mylapore, a college noted in his profile for its cricketing connections. Vijay’s listed hometown and birthplace are both Chennai, and he holds Indian nationality.

Physical profile

Vijay’s reported height is approximately 175 cm (1.75 m or about 5'9") and his playing weight around 75 kg (165 lbs). Descriptions of his physical measurements in the available record include chest, waist and biceps figures. He is described as having brown eyes and black hair.

Career

Murali Vijay made his Test debut for India on 6 November 2008 against Australia in Nagpur, stepping into the side during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. That debut is cited as a turning point in his career. He went on to play 61 Test matches, scoring 3,982 runs in 105 innings at an average of 38.29 with a highest score of 167. Across his Test career he recorded 12 centuries and 15 half-centuries, struck 467 fours and 33 sixes, and faced 8,601 deliveries.

Vijay’s limited-overs international debut followed in 2010: his ODI debut came on 27 February 2010 versus South Africa in Ahmedabad, and his T20 international debut on 1 May 2010 against Afghanistan in St Lucia. In ODIs he played 17 matches and scored 339 runs in 16 innings at an average of 21.19, with a top score of 72 and a solitary fifty. In T20 internationals he appeared in nine matches, scoring 169 runs at an average of 18.78 and a strike rate above 100.

His last international appearances were in the latter half of the 2010s. The final Test he played was on 14 December 2018 against Australia at Perth Stadium. His last ODI and T20I outings came in July 2015 against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club. On 30 January 2023, Murali Vijay announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket.

In the Indian Premier League and domestic competitions, Vijay represented Tamil Nadu and featured for several IPL franchises, including Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI Punjab. Across 106 IPL matches he scored 2,619 runs at an average of 25.93 and a strike rate of 121.87, with two centuries and 13 fifties.

While Vijay contributed primarily as a top-order specialist batsman, his bowling record is minimal: in Tests he took one wicket in a small number of overs, and his bowling appearances across formats were rare and occasional.

Notable achievements and playing style

Vijay is described as calm on the field and a player who preferred certain matchups; he has been noted to enjoy playing against Pakistan and Australia. Among his preferred deliveries is the outswinger. A highlight of his international record was finishing as the second-highest run-scorer behind Virat Kohli in India’s 2014–15 Test series in Australia, an achievement that stands out in his Test resume.

Public profile

Murali Vijay wore the number 26 jersey for India and carried the same number in IPL and county cricket listings. Bharat Arun is recorded as a coach or mentor associated with him. Personal details listed publicly include that he practices Hinduism and enjoys listening to music. Publicly noted cricketing influences and favourites include batsmen such as Virat Kohli, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Viv Richards and Kumar Sangakkara, and bowlers including R Ashwin, Dale Steyn and Zaheer Khan.

Personal life

Vijay is married to Nikita Vijay and they have two children named Iva (daughter) and Nirav (son). His family details in the record mention one sister. His marital status is listed as married. Additional biographical notes include that he is commonly nicknamed "Monk," a reference to his calm nature on the field.

Latest updates

The most recent major update in Vijay’s professional timeline is his international retirement announcement on 30 January 2023. That announcement closed a decade-plus span of appearances for India across formats, while he continued to be recognized for his domestic and IPL contributions.

Career statistics snapshot

By the end of his international career, Vijay’s Test runs totaled just under 4,000 with a dozen centuries. His limited-overs international record was more modest, and his IPL tally exceeded 2,600 runs over 106 matches. His bowling contributions remained occasional throughout his career.

Vijay remains a familiar figure in Indian domestic cricket circles, remembered for a solid Test record, composure at the crease and key performances on tours of Australia.
◈

Recent Work

International retirement announcement

Announced retirement from all forms of international cricket on 30 January 2023.

2023
✦

Career Highlights

  1. Made Test debut for India on 6 November 2008 in Nagpur during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
  2. Scored 3,982 Test runs with 12 centuries and a highest score of 167.
  3. Second-highest run-scorer behind Virat Kohli in the 2014–15 Test series in Australia.
  4. Played 106 IPL matches, scoring 2,619 runs with two centuries.
?

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Murali Vijay (Cricketer) born?

1 April 1984

What is Murali Vijay (Cricketer) known for?

Indian Cricketer (Batsman)

What is Murali Vijay (Cricketer)’s marital status?

Married

Who is Murali Vijay (Cricketer) married to?

Nikita Vijay