Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has come in support of the young opener, Prithvi Shaw to be given a chance as India’s opener, saying he needs to be given a long run. Shaw was included in India’s squad for the three-match T20I series against New Zealand but he wasn’t included in the playing XI for any of the game. Speaking to Star Sports, Pathan said Shaw should be given a chance as India’s opener going forward and needs to be given a long run.

As per the quotes in India Today, Irfan Pathan said, “Going forward, I definitely believe so. Even in the last game when the series decider was there, a lot of people were asking for Prithvi Shaw to be played. That’s when I said that if you are playing Prithvi Shaw, you need to give him a long run.”

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Irfan Pathan also asserted that Shaw needs to be given at least a full series to showcase his talent, instead of just giving him one match to play.

Explaining the same, Irfan Pathan said, “What is long run? Give him a full series. You can’t give him just one match, especially a series decider. The only thing they will have to keep in mind is that Ishan Kishan was playing not only as an opening batter, he was playing as a wicketkeeper-batter as well.”

The 38-year-old said the opening combination of Shaw and Shubman Gill will be a fantastic one for the Indian team. 

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The veteran all-rounder explained it by saying, “The team combination might change a bit when Prithvi Shaw plays and Ishan Kishan goes out but I think whenever Prithvi Shaw gets a chance, it will be a fantastic one because on one side you will get a stable opener, who is Shubman Gill.”

Irfan Pathan said Shaw is a hand-hitting batter with a high strike rate, adding that he is really excited to see the youngster to get a good run of games for India.