Former India cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra reckons that the selectors should have picked Prithvi Shaw in India’s Test squad for the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final and five-Test series against England.
According to Chopra, Shaw has not been given enough opportunities after his failure in the Adelaide Test in December 2020.
Shaw travelled to Australia with the Indian team but lost his place following low scores of 0 and 4 in the Test series opener at the Adelaide Oval. His technique was found out against the in-swinging deliveries and he was also dropped from the squad for the four-Test series against England at home.
"If I was Prithvi Shaw, I would be slightly surprised and disappointed. I'd actually be thinking you haven't given me so many opportunities. Since Adelaide Test when I got out for 0 and 2, I have not played a single Test," Chopra said on ESPNCricinfo.
"Shubman Gill made a debut in Melbourne. Prithvi Shaw played only one game. Before that, he had a decent series in New Zealand, he made a century on his Test debut. He has been phenomenal ever since -- in Vijay Hazare, Syed Mushtaq, and now in IPL," he added.
"I am not saying that you should look at IPL runs when deciding Test squad, but I am talking about a guy who was in your scheme of things three months ago. He was your first-choice opener in Australia.
"Look at the composition of your Test match openers -- I am not sure when was the last time KL Rahul played Test cricket. So, when you look at those four opening choices -- none of them is giving you a lot of confidence.
"Pedigree yes, but performance-wise, there is nothing to really write home about. So, why not have Prithvi Shaw in the mix as well. I would have had him," Aakash Chopra concluded.
Prithvi Shaw has been in terrific form lately. After being axed from the national team, the 21-year-old piled up a staggering 827 runs in 8 innings while playing the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Mumbai.
In the suspended 2021 edition of IPL, Shaw played 8 innings, amassing 308 runs at an impressive strike rate of 166.48 with three half-centuries.
