I am mentally ready to play in the first XI: Prithvi Shaw

Without Rahul sir I couldn’t come this far: Prithvi Shaw

Teenage sensation Prithvi Shaw gets his maiden call up in the Indian test team. Image Source: BCCI

Sabyasachi Bagchi: We all know that Mumbai has been producing a lot of legendary cricketers for a long period of time and it can be called as the factory which produces cricketers for the Indian cricket team. Since 50s and 60s it has been producing players like Dilip Sardesai, Ajit Wadekar, Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar, Sanjay Manjayrekar, Sachin Tendulkar, Vinod Kambli, current Indian team player Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma and many more. Now in last couple of years time it has produced young teenage sensation Prithvi Shaw, who is also known as the wonder kid of Indian cricket. The selectors picked him and Hanuma Vihari for the final two test matches against England in place of Murali Vijay and Kuldeep Yadav. Before leaving for England he talked with www.xtratime.in and talked about his feeling and what he wants to do if he gets a chance in the playing XI. Here goes the full interaction:

XT: This is the first time that you got a call up in the test team. What is your feeling?




Prithvi: This is a huge chance for me. If the team management wants me in the playing XI in the fourth or fifth test I am mentally ready for that. And if I don’t get a chance in the playing XI, I won’t be a loser as I will learn a lot of things while sharing the dressing room with Virat Kohli and others.




XT: You have seen Indian cricketers struggling a lot in English conditions. Do you have any idea about England’s swinging conditions?

Prithvi: Kailash sir (Kailash Ghatani is a spotter from Mumbai) took me to England when I was a U16 cricketer. I played a lot of club cricket there on that period. I have also played there for the India U19 team and India A. I know that there is a lot of difference between test cricket and other version of cricket. But I have the knowledge of how to play duke ball in English conditions. I will be fully ready if I get a chance in the playing XI.




XT: You have successfully led the Indian U19 team to win the U19 World Cup, beside that you have also played well for India A as well. Do you think it will help you in England?

Prithvi: All these experiences will help me a lot in England. I want to thank Gautam Gambhir as well. In the last Indian Premier League at first I didn’t get much chance for Delhi Daredevils. Later when Gambhir stepped down from the captaincy, he pushed me to open the innings for Daredevils. He told Ricky Ponting that I should get the opening slot and he is the first person who kept faith in me. He left his place for me and I am grateful to him. I know the conditions won’t be the same but in IPL I faced a lot of international bowlers and it will help me there.




XT: Legendary Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid has been with you for a long period of time. What’s your thought about him?

Prithvi: There are only two persons who have a lot of contributions in my career. They are my father and Rahul Dravid sir. Without Rahul sir I couldn’t come this far. From the U19 Indian team to India A, I have always got his guidance and you know that how successful he was in England. After getting a call up in the team I talked with my father first, and then I had a conversation with Rahul sir as well. He told me not to change my techniques and just told me to use lighter bat there. I normally use heavy bat but to play swing bowling and as I use high back lift, to timing the ball in that swinging condition he has advised me to use lighter bat and now I am thinking about using it there.




XT: You are a player from Mumbai. Have you talked with Sachin Tendulkar about cricket?

Prithvi: I have two idols in cricket, one is Rahul sir and the other one is Sachin Tendulkar. He has called me many times and talked about cricket with me. He has shared his experience with me about how to play well in tough conditions. Sachin scored his first test ton in Manchester and I want to do the same thing in England if the team management give me a chance in the playing XI.

XT: Share us something about your father’s dream regarding you.




Prithvi:  It was my father’s dream that I would get a chance in the Indian test team and I am happy that I have fulfilled that today. When I was a kid my father used to work in a company at Pawai in Mumbai. He left the job only for my cricket and started his own business. But beside that I am sad as well because my mother isn’t with me in my good time.