Next Sachin Tendulkar?: Mumbaikar creates school cricket record

Prithvi Shaw (Image courtesy: The Cricket Documentary)

Mumbai, Nov 20 (IANS) Mumbai schoolboy Prithvi Pankaj Shaw Wednesday wrote his name in the record books by slamming a stupendous 546 runs in a Harris Shield Cricket Tournament match here.

The 15-year-old’s marathon performance came in the prestigious Under-16 inter-school tournament between his Rizvi Springfield School, Bandra, and St. Francis D’Assisi High School, Borivli.

Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar is believed to have been highly impressed by the youngster’s potential and Prithvi is already talked about as a future star.

“I started batting Tuesday post-lunch and scored 257 off 166 deliveries by stumps, and carried on batting today (Wednesday) to reach the record score,” an elated Prithvi, who captains his school team, told IANS during a short break at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai where he battered the opponents’ bowling attack.

His father Pankaj Shaw, a local garments trader, with tears of joy in his eyes, said Prithvi, studying in ninth standard, has surpassed all expectations in achieving the record. Shaw said Prithvi amassed the staggering score off 330 balls, with 85 fours and five sixes.

With his performance, Prithvi — who has already been nicknamed ‘Prithvi Missile’ by the Mumbai media — has broken the 2010 record of Armaan Jaffer (498).

Born and bred in Virar in Thane district, Prithvi lost his mother a few years ago. Pankaj moved to Santacruz east to enable his son hone his cricketing skills and get good education in a reputed school.

“He is extremely dedicated and hardworking. Every free hour from school and studies, he devotes on the cricket field, either at MIG Club, Bandra or the Air India Club, Santacruz.”

Prithvi’s promise was recognised two years ago when he went to England and played for Gloucestershire second eleven.