IPL 2021: My dad asked me to play my natural game – Prithvi Shaw

Delhi Capitals opening batsman Prithvi Shaw has revealed that his dad asked to play his natural game after he returned to India from a disappointing tour of Australia.

Shaw couldn’t deliver in the first pink-ball Test match against Australia and was castled in both the innings. Subsequently, he was dropped from the final XI as Shubman Gill was given his chance.

Shaw then worked hard on his game and delivered big in the Vijay Hazare trophy. Shaw ended up scoring 827 runs in the eight matches of the Vijay Hazare trophy, including four hundred, out of which three were the big ones. The right-hander scored his runs at an impeccable average of 165.40 and a blistering strike rate of 138.29.

Furthermore, Shaw also broke Mayank Agarwal’s record of scoring most runs in the Vijay Hazare trophy as the latter had scored 723 runs in the 2018 edition.

Shaw has continued his good form in the IPL as he scored 72 runs off just 38 balls in the first match of the season against CSK. The talented batsman was at his destructive best against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Thursday as he smashed 82 runs from 41 balls.

Shaw scored six fours in the opening over which was bowled by his Under-19 teammate Shivam Mavi and gave a perfect start to his team in the run chase of 156 runs. The right-hander completed his fifty in just 18 balls, which is the fastest fifty of IPL 2021.

Prithvi Shaw said in the post-match presentation, “My dad has supported me very well. After getting back from Australia, I wasn’t happy with myself. My dad just asked me to play my natural game. All these words set a target on me and I worked hard. In cricket the graphs are going to go up and down, a lot of failures are going to come my way”.

Shaw added that he doesn’t think about his personal score and it is important for him to contribute to the team’s success.

Shaw added, “On this wicket especially when the spinner is bowling it wasn’t coming very nicely onto the bat. Was stopping a little. Was waiting for them to bowl at me on off stump or outside so I can free my hands. When I’m in there, I keep playing and don’t think about the score. Don’t think about myself, just want the team to win”.

DC will next face PBKS at the same venue on 2nd of May.