Tendulkar to Shaw - Don’t change your natural technique

The Indian legend reveals he had advised the eight-year-old boy not to change his grip or stance when he watched him for the first time, 10 years ago.

The legend and the prodigy: Sachin Tendulkar recalls having remarked to his friend that Prithvi Shaw “is a future India player.”

Having watched Prithvi Shaw for the first time 10 years ago, Sachin Tendulkar had advised the then eight-year-old boy not to change his natural technique.

“I asked him not to change his grip or stance, irrespective of any future instructions from his coaches. If anyone asks you to do so, tell them to come talk to me. Coaching is good, but overcooking a player with tweaks is not,” Tendulkar said on his app ‘100MB’. “It is so important not to change anything when you see such a special player. It is God’s gift to have a complete package,” Tendulkar added.

Read: The blossoming of the young Prithvi Shaw

Shaw has been included in the Indian Test squad for the final two Tests and Tendulkar is happy that he saw the spark when he watched him for the first time. “Around 10 years ago, one of my friends asked me to take a look at the young Prithvi. He asked me analyse his game and give him some advice. I had a session with him and gave couple of pointers on how to improve his game,” Tendulkar said.

‘Future India player’

Recalling his impressions of Shaw, who barely reached the stumps, Tendulkar had later told his friend: “Are you watching? That’s a future India player.”

The 18-year-old Shaw, who had captained India to the U-19 World Cup triumph earlier this year, has scored 1,418 runs in 14 first-class games at an average of 56.72.