Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif was part of the Delhi Capitals (DC) staff as an assistant coach from IPL 2019-2021. He has recalled young Prithvi Shaw asking him to bowl underarm to him at nets as he wasn’t getting runs for the franchise.
In the IPL 2019, Shaw made 353 runs at an average of 22 with two half-centuries. But this also included a lean patch of run for him with the bat where he had scores of 7, 24, 99, 0, 11, 9, 14, 4, 20, 13, 42, and 18 in the league stage.
"I was with the Delhi Capitals for three years and got to spend a lot of time with Prithvi Shaw. He had this ritual where, before the match, I used to hold a new ball with the seam and throw it underarm towards him, below his knee. He would keep knocking it back to me," Kaif told SportsKeeda in an interview.
"One day, when I was having tea, a player came in and told me that Shaw was waiting for me outside. I ran outside and asked him what happened. So, he told me, 'Please bowl underarm to me, I am not getting runs. I want to start this ritual again,” he added.
This somehow benefitted Shaw, who then scored 99 against the Kolkata Knight Riders, as it helped DC register an important win over KKR, which went to the Super over.
"He was specific that I had to bowl underarm but with a straight seam and also below the knee so that the ball could meet the middle of the bat. He used to play 10-12 balls in that manner. He used to hit the ball back at me and get into a sort of batting rhythm," added Kaif.
"In the next match, he went in and scored runs. After the game, we looked at each other and started laughing. We did not speak to each other, just made eye contact and I suggested that if a ritual is working, then don't break it. He admitted that he had made a mistake and became lazy but assured that he would not repeat it. And he kept following the ritual after that," he added.
The Delhi Capitals started their IPL 2022 on a winning note as they defeated Mumbai Indians in their opening match at the Brabourne Stadium on March 27.
