Having impressed onlookers in the Ranji Trophy and the subsequent Indian Premier League (IPL), Prithvi Shaw seems to have carved a niche for himself as a special talent for India across formats.
The 18-year-old opener has benefitted from his first IPL experience; performing in front of 40,000 fans has helped him overcome the awe of big names.
Read: Inconsistent Royals up for KKR challenge
Speaking to Sportstar at Payyade Cricket Club, Kandivali, on the sidelines of a talent hunt programme organised by mobile phone giant Oppo , Shaw talks about his IPL campaign and looks ahead to the India A tour of England.
Excerpts
Thoughts on India A's tour of England...
A: I’ve not planned for the England tour yet, since I’m just coming off the IPL. The England tour is a big series for us and I’m looking forward to it. IPL is over for me, so I’m going to tune my mindset again.
Familiarity with local conditions from exposure tours as a junior...
This will be my sixth or seventh time in England. I’ve experience over there about how wickets behave, the conditions at this time. I’m ready for it to be honest. It’s not going to be easy, even with extensive exposure. A little bit of adjustment is needed. The IPL is a different ball game. Facing England against England is a different thing. I need to plan for it.
As an Indian batsman, on things to watch out for there...
It is an individual thing. My batting is completely different from say, Rishabh Pant or Shreyas Iyer. It will be about individual movement and adjustment at the crease. I’m am aware about these aspects. Of course, Rahul sir (India A coach Rahul Dravid) will be there to help us with his 20 years of international experience.
On the impact Ricky Pointing had on Delhi Daredevils squad members...
I really liked him. He was really ruling all of us, but not in a literal sense, but in a positive way. The advice that he gave us was to just enjoy your game. When I made my IPL debut, I was nervous because there were so many people around, those cameras focussed on me. This wasn’t my first time (playing in a match live on television) but I was feeling the pressure. I did well and enjoyed myself.
On the IPL experience...
In your life, you’ll face some difficult situations and you have to get out of those situations. You’ll get support but you have to do it yourself. When 40,000 people are shouting (in a stadium) the coach can’t tell you what to do by shouting instructions from outside. You have to do it on your own. I wasn’t having that maturity till now, now I am able to find my way out of situations.
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On the difference between IPL and playing other tournaments...
When you play for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy, you are likely to face the same bowler next season, but in IPL, you face bowlers of a different calibre. You face Mitchell Johnson, get to watch AB de Villiers. It was the best stage for everyone.
On post-IPL changes as a cricketer...
I’ve faced each and every difficult bowler over there. From now on, it’s no longer a worry. The anxiety about facing such bowlers won’t come to my mind. The positive things learnt under Gautam Gambhir, Pointing, the views experts have said will remain with me.
On the feeling watching team-mate Pant at the crease...
I wasn’t there in the XI for the first five games, so was just sitting and enjoying his batting. He’s done a superb job for us. It’s sad that we didn’t qualify for the playoffs, we enjoyed each other’s success and that’s the main thing.
On leading international players referring to Test cricket as the real test of batting ability...
Absolutely correct. I think many Twenty20 and one-day games will keep happening, but to get a Test cap is not easy.
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