He has earned a reputation for piling on big scores – first as a toddler in the maidans , then as an impressive youngster in age-group and finally as a teenager in first-class cricket and in the Under-19 international arena – while opening the batting for all his teams. Yet, days after leading India's Under-19 team to the World Cup title , Prithvi Shaw discovered various challenges at the senior level.
After joining his Mumbai team-mates midway through the league stage of the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Chennai, Shaw was asked to bat at No. 3 considering the balance of the team. The tiny batsman adapted well to the new challenge thrown at him, scoring a fifty in each of the two innings he batted at that position over the last week.
Shaw was eloquent in elaborating the difference between opening the innings and batting at No. 3. “Personally, I think, when you open the batting, it’s slightly trickier. You have to read the situation and the wicket. But at No. 3, you already know what is happening out there in terms of ball movement. So it’s slightly simpler to come in after (the fall of a wicket),” Shaw said at a promotional event on Thursday.
‘Open’
Shaw isn’t just more confident in his batting, but (or so it seems) public speaking, too. When queried on his batting-order preference, he answered just as he would play a stand-up straight drive. “Open, always,” he said.
Read - Shaw: 'Going back with great memories'
Shaw has been in the limelight ever since he returned home with the glittering World Cup trophy on February 5. After a rousing welcome and having met a host of political dignitaries a day later, the batsman joined the Mumbai camp for the Vijay Hazare Trophy. While the experience of tackling different situations has made him richer, the baby of the team – nicknamed Chhotu – will soon stand to lose a few thousand rupees.
Treat for team-mates
Asked about the Mumbai team's reaction upon his joining the squad, he said: “Nothing special, they just congratulated me. We had a team dinner and now I have to treat them you know, take out some money!”
Shaw was also upbeat on having been picked by the Delhi Daredevils for the forthcoming edition of the Indian Premier League. He is looking forward to picking the brains of Daredevils head coach Ricky Ponting and is excited to spend a lot of time with Pravin Amre, the Daredevils assistant coach who is one of his mentors. “I think, for me, it will be a matter of experience. Spending one or two months around international players and the coach himself – Ricky Ponting – will be great. I have to see how much I can get out of it to put through in my game. It’s going to be fun,” he said.
Shaw in Vijay Hazare Trophy
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