(Source X)
Ricky Ponting, former head coach of Delhi Capitals, delved into the reasons behind Prithvi Shaw’s limited game time during IPL 2024, expressing disappointment at not fully utilizing the talented right-hander. Shaw’s trajectory from being hailed as the next Sachin Tendulkar to finding himself frequently benched has been a poignant narrative in Indian cricket, especially amidst the successes of other young players.
Despite Shaw’s longstanding association with Delhi Capitals since 2018, his form has faltered over the past two seasons. In IPL 2024, he featured in just eight games, where he struggled to make a significant impact with an average of 24.75 and a strike rate of 163.64. Similarly, his performance in the 2023 season was underwhelming, averaging 13.25 across eight matches.
Ponting acknowledged Shaw’s undeniable skill but lamented the challenge of integrating him consistently into the team’s lineup. He emphasized the importance of Shaw standing up to the team’s expectations and responsibilities. Ponting shared his insights in an interview with Cricbuzz.
“Prithvi Shaw shouldn’t be an outlier. He should be someone that’s in every team; the first pick in most teams with the skill that he’s got. He’s had a chance to represent India as a youngster, making a hundred on his Test debut. And as you say, halfway through this year, we couldn’t find a slot for him in our DC team. So that’s disappointing for me as a coach not to be able to make certain players better and get the best out of them.
“But sometimes there’s only so much you can give and so many times you can try. When you feel like you’re not making players better and they’re not doing what you need for the team, then you’ve got to look for other players that can do it for you. So that then comes back to the player.”
Ricky Ponting elaborated that he engaged in numerous discussions with Prithvi Shaw, aiming to enhance his skills as a cricketer. Expressing optimism about Shaw’s potential to overcome his challenges and excel, Ponting articulated:
“With him in particular I’ve had a lot of chats, a lot of conversations to try and make him a better cricketer. I mean, he’s still a young man. And he’s still a very talented young player. And hopefully, one day, the penny drops for him, and he works out what he needs to do to be the best cricketer that he can be.”
Prithvi Shaw has represented India across all three formats of the game. He made a stunning debut in Test cricket by scoring a century, and has since played 5 Tests, 6 ODIs, and a solitary T20I for the national team.
