For Prithvi Shaw, the aim for this season is straightforward – Be higher
“I am expecting to be better than what I was last season. I just want to be a better version of myself as a good batter, as an athlete and as a good person,” mentioned Shaw after his aspect, West Zone, obtained the higher of East Zone within the Duleep Trophy semifinal on the Alur (I) Cricket Ground in Bengaluru on Thursday.
The 23-year-old batter had a middling sport – 26 within the first innings and 25 within the second – which was performed virtually fully beneath overcast situations, posing a stiff problem to batters on each side.
In the primary innings, Shaw and his opening associate Priyank Panchal discovered the going powerful, with East pacers, led by skipper Shivam Mavi, who loved prodigious motion. The duo might solely rating 17 runs within the first 10 overs, with the primary boundary coming solely within the seventh over, that too from an edge from Panchal’s bat.
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“The conditions were difficult. We were playing in such difficult conditions after so long. I wouldn’t say it was seaming, but spinning for fast bowlers. We were being beaten by balls that were swinging balls moving at arm’s length. It was a really good challenge.
I think that was a personal record for me, in terms of playing so many balls and not scoring that many,” mentioned Shaw sparking laughter round.
But within the second innings, West, with a 92-run first-innings lead in its boot, proceeded to be extra adventurous within the begin, with boundaries flowing in from each the openers.
“By the second innings, I understood that by defending, nothing was happening, so I went ahead and played my shots,” mentioned Shaw.
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A spotlight of his second innings knock was the back-to-back uppercuts he hit in opposition to Mavi to supply West with the spark going forward.
“I am not the kind of player who usually plays uppercuts or reverse sweeps. I have seen that in red ball matches, usually, there isn’t a third man. When a bowler is bowling a bouncer, they have a fielder at deep fine leg, but rarely one at third man. I thought it was a great opportunity to try that shot then, as the ball was new,” mentioned Shaw.
Interestingly, this was Shaw’s first Duleep Trophy sport, the place he didn’t rating 100. In 4 video games within the competitors, the Mumbai batter has accrued 551 runs at a mean of near 80.
“I really like to play Duleep Trophy. I made my debut in this competition in 2017. Since then, whenever I have gotten a chance to play, I have. With everyone coming together, the energy is always great,” he mentioned.
Shaw additionally underpinned his respect for the pink ball sport, saying how he valued the problem it posed. “I really like red ball cricket. I feel it is the actual cricket. You get tested, particularly in conditions like this.”
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Shaw got here into the Duleep Trophy following an underwhelming IPL season with Delhi Capitals, the place he scored simply 106 runs in eight appearances, as his aspect did not qualify for the playoffs.
“Yeah, this IPL didn’t go well. I think this is my first IPL where I haven’t clicked. I am not giving any reasons for that. Sometimes it happens. You can’t be perfect always. I try to work harder when something like this happens.
Those few innings [at the beginning of IPL 2023] went in a flash. I kept thinking about the first match, and the next three matches quickly passed. The best learning I have had from this IPL is, once a match is done, then I have to keep moving forward and not look back and be held back by what happened in the last game,” mentioned Shaw.
Shaw’s final look for the nationwide staff got here virtually a yr in the past. But he’s not one to change his methods to alter his fortunes.
“Personally, I feel I don’t have to change my game. I have to just be a little smarter than what I am. I can’t bat like [Cheteshwar] Pujara, sir, and he can’t bat like me. I don’t want to change how I am.”
With a big selection of video games on his horizon, together with the Duleep Trophy remaining, Shaw doesn’t need to prioritise a event particularly.
“All games are important to me. I am the kind of person who puts the team first. I have always done that. Sometimes you have to take a step back and then go forward. I believe good things will come your way if you do the right things at the right time,” he concluded.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com