SL v IND 2021: Prithvi Shaw is a phenomenal player, but needs to convert starts: Aakash Chopra

He made a comeback to the Indian team in the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka

Prithvi Shaw made a decent comeback to the Indian team. He scored 105 runs at an average of 35 in the recently concluded three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka. His fearless approach has given the Indian team brisk starts, especially in the first ODI match where he obliterated opposition bowling and laid the foundation for the other batsmen. 

The youngster was unfortunate to get out in the 40s twice. He looked stunned and disappointed when he got out on 49 in the third and the final ODI. He might have failed to get the big score but his attacking approach showed his hunger for runs.

Former India batsman Aakash Chopra said that Prithvi Shaw was a phenomenal player and just has to convert the start to get big scores. He was all praise of the way the Mumbai batsman bats.

“I like Prithvi Shaw; he is a phenomenal player. He played two good knocks in the first and third ODI. He has been in swashbuckling form, and that’s the only way he knows to bat - going hard at the bowling,” Aakash Chopra said.

“The beauty of Prithvi Shaw’s batting is that when he hits the ball, it mostly races through the gaps in the field. As long as he is at the crease, batting seems like a breeze. You feel like applauding his strokes; Prithvi Shaw is that kind of a player,” he added.

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The former cricketer said that Shaw will be upset because he did not convert the starts as there was hardly in pressure in the first and the third ODI.

“But Prithvi Shaw will be upset with one aspect of his game. He got good starts in two of the three matches. In the first match, India was not chasing a big total, and Prithvi Shaw had enough time to play long innings. In the third ODI, India batted first, and he again had time on his hands to build a big score. There was no pressure as such both times, yet Prithvi Shaw fell before crossing the half-century mark,” he said.

Aakash Chopra also said that there was nothing wrong with Shaw’s technique. All he had to do was play longer innings that create a greater impact on the game.

“Playing blazing and audacious strokes looks great out in the middle. At the end of the day though, the youngster needs to remember that batsmen who score 100-150 make a bigger impact in the game, and selectors find it difficult to ignore such performances. Prithvi Shaw was positive no doubt, but he needs to work on converting starts,” Chopra concluded.

Prithvi will now eye the 3-match T20I series which begins from Sunday in Colombo.

(Inputs: Hindustan Times)