India will soon play their limited-overs series against Sri Lanka and Prithvi Shaw is likely to play a key role as well. Shaw had a steller form in the domestic season this year and former India coach Anshuman Gaekwad has opened up on the need for him to stay grounded in Sri Lanka as well.
After having tested a sudden success with the bat, Shaw faced a rough patch and eventually dropped from the squad. But he returned to the form during the Vijay Hazare Trophy where he finished as the leading run-getter and then did well in the now-suspended Indian Premier League as well. Although he couldn’t make it to the cut to the Indian squad that is currently in England for the Test series, he earned a place in the team that will take on Sri Lanka.
However, the veteran said that it could be a touch of over-confidence in him that led to the downfall of Prithvi Shaw towards the end of 2020. He further added that the Sri Lanka tour will be very crucial for him also.
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“It’s going to be very important for him. He’s a brilliant player, who’s got a lot of runs. He started off with flying colours. We thought ‘here is a boy who had come here to stay’. But then he lost it. And why did he lose it? It could be confidence, it could be overconfidence, or arrogance. These are the reasons for which a player has a downfall. Being grounded is very, very important. I’ve seen the greatest of players – talk about Tendulkar, Dravid, Vishwanath. They were all grounded, and never put their collars up or said ‘I’m so and so’,” shared Anshuman Gaekwad.
He continued: “All these guys played for long – Laxman, Sourav, Azhar. All of them. Of course, being young these things happen but I’m sure he’s learnt his lesson. He has to grow up, and I’m sure he has. Some players probably improve from the experience of watching others, while some want to do it themselves. They want to experience it themselves, and then improve, so I hope he has learnt his lesson. Also, the thing with him is that he’s got time with him. He’s got tremendous potential and promise, so the sky’s the limit.”
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Notably, Prithvi Shaw worked on his batting before the domestic season and his hard work paid off too. He amassed a record 827 runs in the 2021 Vijay Hazare Trophy and 308 runs in 8 IPL matches at a stunning strike rate of 166.48 as well.
