IND v WI 2018: Sourav Ganguly foresees Prithvi Shaw’s success in Australia

"I am sure he [Shaw] will do well in Australia because he is a good back-foot player" - Ganguly.

Ganguly is impressed with Prithvi Shaw's back-foot game | AFP

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has lauded Prithvi Shaw for his flawless century on Test debut against the West Indies at Rajkot on Thursday (October 4). Shaw scored a sublime 134 and, at 18 years and 329 days, became the youngest Indian to reach the three-figure mark in his maiden appearance.

“What stands out is the way he batted, big temperament. He dominated the bowlers on way to his hundred. Big game, first match, he just played the way he knew,” Ganguly told PTI.

“It’s positivity, temperament and attitude to batting which is fantastic. Playing the U-19 World Cup and playing a Test math for India is completely different. What I saw today was extremely pleasing to the eye and hopefully he can play for India for a long long time,” he added.

Ganguly also backed Shaw to flourish in Australia in the forthcoming tour, citing that the teenager is a solid back-foot player.

“He will go to Australia in a couple of months. I am sure he will do well because he is a good back-foot player. You want to see young players doing well. It’s still early days, he will have to go the distance going around the world. But congratulations to him and I thought he was absolutely marvellous today,” Sourav opined.

Comparisons may have been started for Shaw with many finding similarities with Virender Sehwag but Ganguly said the youngster should be left alone.

“Don’t compare him with Sehwag. Sehwag was an absolute genius. Let him go around the world, I am sure he will get runs in Australia, England and South Africa but don’t compare him with Sehwag,” Ganguly asserted.

With this ton, Shaw also became the first Indian batsman to score hundreds in Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and Test debut.

“It must be a phenomenal day for him. I didn’t have a Ranji Trophy debut hundred. But I had a Deuleep Trophy debut hundred and then India debut hundred,” Ganguly concluded.

(With PTI inputs)

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 05 Oct, 2018

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