17-year-old Mumbai opener scores fourth hundred in his fifth first class match and shows he has enough talent to play top flight cricket
Blooding a promising youngster into the top flight of international sports is always a gamble. While the likes of Sachin Tendulkar blossom into legends, promises such as L Sivaramakrishnan whither away. But it is a risk worth taking.
Mumbai’s 17-year-old Prithvi Shaw, just eight days shy of turning 18, has long been expected to play for India. And after he cracked his fourth century in just his fifth first class match on Wednesday, the question now is not about whether but more about when.
Is Shaw ready for Tests? Experts opine he is.
Asked if Shaw can be drafted straight into the Indian team, former India player and Mumbai coach Praveen Amre was not in two minds.
“If given an opportunity, I think Shaw has the confidence and potential to do well at the international level,” said Amre.
Mumbai opener Shaw smacked a classy yet aggressive 105 (153b, 18x4s) against Orissa on the opening day of the Group C Ranji Trophy encounter at the KIIT Stadium in Bhubaneshwar on Wednesday.
Continuing from the previous game where he scored 123 & 5 against Tamil Nadu in Mumbai, the youngster carried his red-hot form to Bhubaneshwar.
Those who have watched Shaw would vouch for his strokemaking ability. He takes on the bowlers and is a far cry from the Mumbai’s traditional ‘play in the V’ batsmen. On Wednesday, he outshone India vice captain Ajinkya Rahane on a seaming track.
While others struggled, Shaw was playing strokes all over. He stepped out to hit a pacer over the cover fielder to the fence and reach his hundred. Nervous nineties anyone? Nah.
If there have been some great careers made thanks to early debuts like that of Tendulkar (16 years 205 days), Harbhajan Singh (17y, 265d), B Chandrashekhar (18y, 249d) or Ravi Shastri (18y, 270d), there have been a few that failed — Sivaramakrishnan (17y, 118d), Maninder Singh (17y, 193d) etc.
It is a difficult step to take. The problem with promising talents is blood them in too early and they may falter, make them wait too long, they may get disillusioned.
As far as Shaw is concerned, his mentor Makarand Waingankar is confident of his ward and wants him to be included in the Indian team for the forthcoming series at home against Sri Lanka.
“Why not? If Sachin Tendulkar can at 16 why not Shaw? He has scored four hundreds, all against quality attack. If not now then when?”
“While Tendulkar batted at No.5 when he made his debut, Shaw, as an opener, has been facing the new ball, which is more difficult,” said Waingankar.
Though Amre is confident of Shaw’s calibre, he struck a cautious note. “To be honest, at the top level the competition is too high. Shaw should enjoy wherever he is playing and scoring in matches. It will only help him become a better player. The way he scored in those seaming conditions against Orissa, which is a dangerous side at home, is brilliant. He backed himself and got a 100. The selectors are also backing him.”
Amre said, “Shaw is the best among his age group. That he has temperament, he showed when he scored 500 runs in school cricket and the way he has grown from there to U-19 and now Ranji. He has been groomed well.
“The way he has been playing for India U-19, a century on Ranji debut, then another ton in Duleep Trophy which came against the best and the half-century in practice game against New Zealand, he has improved leaps and bounds,” added Amre.
Amre is impressed with the way Shaw has maintained his strike rate. “The way he is playing right now, he not trying to change anything and he is scoring at a good pace. Now that he is converting his scores into 100s, he should start looking for double tons, which will be helpful.”
Talking about Shaw’s temperament, Waingankar said, “He is a mentally tough kid and has come up through a tough grind. So, he knows how to cope with pressure.”
Shaw’s last four tons
- 120 for Mumbai vs Tamil Nadu (Ranji Trophy)
- 156 for India Red vs India Blue (Duleep Trophy)
- 123 for Mumbai vs Tamil Nadu (Ranji Trophy)
- 105 for Mumbai vs Odisha (Ranji Trophy)
N zone
- 4No of centuries Prithvi Shaw has scored in five First Class matches
- 7No of centuries Sachin Tendulkar has scored before turning 18
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Prithvi Shaw")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}