Prithvi Shaw and his meteoric rise to the Test spot

On the eve of the first Test against West Indies at Rajkot, BCCI announced its shortlisted 12-man squad. The inclusion of Prithvi Shaw in the list confirmed the Test debut of the 18-year old batsman who is likely to open the innings alongside KL Rahul. Shaw was an also part of the Indian Test squad that was defeated 4-1 in England but was not selected in any of the final playing XI.

The Indian fans will be eagerly awaiting Shaw’s debut in the white flannels for the nation. The prodigy has grasped the public attention for some time now with his exceptional talent, often forcing a comparison with another young genius who went on to become one of the greatest cricketers, Sachin Tendulkar.

Prithvi Shaw’s selection at the top spot is not a hunch or a whimsy of the selectors, the youngster boasts of an incredible record that begs his inclusion. Shaw averages 56.72 in first-class cricket with seven centuries in just 14 matches. Here is a walk through Prithvi Shaw’s brief yet glorious career so far.

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546 runs - in one inning!

Prithvi Shaw set a new record with his 546 runs knock in school cricket

The wonder boy broke into the mainstream news at the age of 14 with his monumental knock in school cricket. Playing for his school team Rizvi Springfield, Prithvi Shaw piled 546 runs in the national-record knock against St Francis D’Assisi at the Azad Maidan in the Harris Shield tournament.

This was the first instance of a schoolboy cricketer scoring more than 500 runs in inter-school cricket. The innings filled with 85 fours and five sixes brought Shaw in limelight for the first time.

Ranji Trophy Debut - A majestic beginning

Shaw scored a century against Tamil Nadu on his Ranji Trophy debut

At the age of 17, Prithvi Shaw made his first-class debut. The match was a Ranji Trophy Semifinal against a heavyweight side of Tamil Nadu at an unfamiliar venue of Rajkot. The boy was out in the first over of the innings with only four runs on his name.

Mumbai was then chasing 251 runs in the fourth innings to seal their place in the final after securing the first-inning lead. Shaw proved his mettle this time and cruised to an unbeaten 99 with strokes all around the park.

The Mumbai boy then was lured into an outside off-stump delivery which he dispatched straightaway to a fielder at point. As luck would have it, bowler Vijay Shankar had overstepped and Shaw received another life. He then stormed his way to a match-winning 120 thus becoming a first-class centurion on his debut.

In the final against Gujrat, Shaw provided the team with a flying start with his 71 from 93 balls with 11 fours. Mumbai was however wrapped up for 228 runs and conceded a 100-run lead.

In the second essay, Prithvi came out with all guns blazing and blasted 44 from just 35 balls. The momentum helped Mumbai notch up the score of 411 but the bowlers failed to win the match for the city. Nevertheless, India had seen the potential of this little star.

Duleep Trophy - Shaw shines brightly

Shaw was the second youngest centurion in Duleep Trophy after Sachin Tendulkar

India Red faced India Blue in the final of the Duleep Trophy in September 2017 at Lukhnow. Prithvi Shaw was included only in the final and had not played in any matches leading to it. He opened the innings alongside his Mumbai partner Akhil Herwadkar as India Red batted first.

Exhibiting the range of strokes against a bowling attack that included Ishant Sharma, Jaidev Unadkat and Pankaj Singh; Prithvi Shaw scored a marvellous 154 from 249 balls with 18 fours and a six. The knock helped the side get to 483 in their first dig and proved advantageous in claiming the title of Duleep Trophy. The century placed Shaw as the second-youngest centurion in the history of Duleep Trophy. The youngest, of course, is Sachin Tendulkar.

Building upon the success - Ranji Trophy 2017-18

Shaw dazzled in the 2017-18 Ranji Trophy Season

After missing out on the first match, Shaw returned to the Mumbai side for the match against Tamil Nadu at BKC Ground, Mumbai. On the first day of the match itself, Shaw slammed 123 from just 155 balls with 17 fours and two sixes against the bowling attack that comprised of R Ashwin, K Vignesh and V Yo Mahesh.

In the next match, Shaw scored a fluent 105 with 18 boundaries at Bhubaneshwar on a pitch where Odisha found themselves at 2/4! Shaw scored 46 from 45 balls in the second innings to prove that demons in the pitch had no effect on him whatsoever. He was adjudged Man of the match for his stellar effort.

In Mumbai’s 500th Ranji match, Shaw was bowled in the first over of the first innings for a duck but the teenager came right back in the second dig with a sumptuous 56 from 70 balls.

The wonder boy smashed another first-class ton as he stroked his way to a wonderful 114 versus Andhra. To round off the splendid effort, Shaw raced to 50 in just 26 balls against Tripura as Mumbai chased 63 runs in just 6.2 overs to seal the Quarterfinal berth.

Heroics in white-ball cricket

Prithvi Shaw lead India Under-19 team to World Cup win

Prithvi Shaw has no inhibitions. He invariably goes for his shots and gives his 100% in the effort which helps him score big despite his diminutive stature. In limited overs cricket, he is yet to fully express himself but still has an impressive record. Not to forget that he lead the Indian Under-19 team to a World Cup win earlier this year.

In 22 List-A matches, Shaw has three centuries and five fifties at an average of 42.63. Most impressive is his strike rate, which currently stands at 115.37. In T20s, it rockets up to 153.12, not a surprise for those who saw him batting in this year’s IPL.

Battling against West Indies

At the opening slot, Shaw will be up against the fresh bowling attack of West Indies. The bowling attack of the Caribbean team is not threatening by any means and Shaw has an experience of facing such bowlers. The little chap already has seven first-class centuries from 14 matches and averages 56.72.

Prithvi Shaw has scored centuries on his Ranji Trophy debut, Duleep Trophy debut as well on the first-class debut. Can anyone thwart him from getting one on his Test debut is the real question whose answer is to be found out in his debut match.