Prithvi Shaw has sent a strong message about his calibre as he hit a solid half-century in the second round of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on Friday, November 28. Shaw displayed a commanding performance against Hyderabad at the JU Campus in Salt Lake, Kolkata.
He hit 66 off 36 balls which included nine fours and three sixes, stitching a strong partnership of 117 runs with Arshin Kulkarni in just 73 deliveries. Shaw hit a half-century in just 23 balls, signalling his intent right from the start as he put Maharashtra in a dominant position. He took control from the very first over and was fluent with his innings, even two of his three sixes came off as clean straight hits. Arshin Kulkarni also completed fifty off 37 balls which helped Maharashtra set a solid foundation under pressure.
Shaw is currently leading Maharashtra in absence of Ruturaj Gaikwad who is with the national team for upcoming ODI series against South Africa. Now that Shaw has found his rhythm back, he will be eyeing several IPL franchises as his consistent performances will definitely catchy their eye. He recently switched his association as he left Mumbai in order to find more opportunities and excel in his career.
It has been quite a tough time for Shaw, he was excluded from major cricketing tournaments last year due to allegations of indiscipline and poor form. One of the biggest setback for Shaw was not getting picked for IPL, however the opening batter is now trying to turn the tables by delivering consistent performances. Shaw’s form could make him one of the most sought-after players in the upcoming IPL mini-auction on 15 December in Abu Dhabi. Kolkata Knight Riders, in particular, may take interest as they continue to search for a stable Indian opener after last season’s to p-order struggles.
