New Delhi: Looking to grab the opportunity in Zimbabwe with both hands, Murali Vijay said that he was certainly expecting a call-up in the ODI squad after putting in a good effort in 32 Test appearances since 2008.

On board to tour Zimbabwe for a three ODI and two T20I series, Vijay is part of a second string 15-member India squad led by Ajinkya Rahane. The Tamil Nadu opener is happy to make an ODI comeback after two years when he had last played in a match against Sri Lanka, at the tri-series in the Caribbean.

"It is a happy feeling to make a comeback in ODIs. I have been batting well in Tests, so I just have to grab the opportunity that has come my way.

"As a player, I was expecting the call-up. I was the third opener for four series, including the 2013 Champions Trophy, but could not get a game...

"I have always believed in myself. It is not about competing with anybody. I always compete with myself and I look to improve as far as I can.

"It is not that I am going to play as a third opener and be happy. I will never be happy. I have always wanted to be the leading batsman in Indian cricket," a cricket-specific website quoted Vijay as saying.

Sans a half-century in the 14 ODIs that he has played for India, Vijay dismisses any talk of self-doubt regarding his game. "Never. There has never been any self-doubt. I have been working on my game, on my basics. That's where my focus is on. If you focus on playing your game, you're fearless.

"I have been waiting for the opportunity without rushing myself. Previously, when I got the opportunities, they were stop-start. Now that I have got another one, I am just happy and excited to go and express myself on the field," Vijay said.

"I am not a guy who will give excuses, but you have got to consider the number of matches I have played on the trot. That matters a lot as a batsman. It is not an excuse. But I never got a string of ODIs or series. I had to adapt to that in the past," he added.

The 31-year-old also played down any talk of being suited to play the longer format better than the limited-overs version. "I never see myself as seeing off a new ball. I always have the intent to play the ball. If the ball is not to be played, I leave it. It is not that I go in to bat with the intention that I have to leave these many balls.

"It is just that I want to play a little more compact to have the upper hand against the bowler. That is my thinking," he said.

"There are two ways to look at the matter. Either you go aggressive or go defensive. But all I want to do is give myself more confidence by counter attacking a good spell in a proper way, and then I can cash in.

"So, I am always thinking of attacking in my mind," he said.

(PTI)