A century in his Ranji trophy debut. The youngest to score a century on his Duleep Trophy debut, breaking a record held earlier by the great Sachin Tendulkar. And 5 centuries in the 9 first-class matches he’s played so far. There’s also the 546 Prithvi Shaw scored at the age of 14 playing for his school in 2013.
As of this month, he’s also scored two half centuries in the ongoing ICC Under-19 World Cup that includes a 94 AND a 57 he made while chasing PNG’s 67 run target!
SO WHY ISN’T PRITHVI SHAW PLAYING FOR INDIA ALREADY? This is now the big question doing the rounds – fuelled on, of course, by Ian Bishop going all ‘that. is. Tendulkar’ while watching him bat during the World Cup.
But, the question is, why should he? Why should Prithvi be given an India debut just over 2 months after turning 18? Has he shown batting skills like no other Indian team hopeful? Has he scored runs like no other in domestic cricket?
Mayank Agarwal has. And so has Faiz Fazal. Karnataka’s Mayank was the Ranji Trophy’s highest scorer with 1,160 runs and 5 centuries. Faiz helped Vidarbha win their first Ranji title, finishing as the league’s second-highest scorer with 912 runs.
What would justify picking Shaw for India ahead of these top performers?
It definitely won’t be the fact that he’s an opener. Because so are Mayank and Faiz. And so are Rohit and Dhawan and Rahane who are already one-upping each other for the two slots in the Indian line-up.
So where in the Indian team will he bat? Or do we risk making him bat somewhere down the order at a spot that doesn’t come to him naturally?
Just because there’s a narrative walking parallel with Prithvi Shaw's career stats — the Mumbai boy who scored big in school cricket like Sachin and then made a splash in his first full season — is that enough for Indian selectors to move away from the tried and tested vetting process that youth cricketers have gone through to earn an India cap?
Here’s something to think about.
The now certified stars like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli had to wait 2 years after making their U-19 ODI debut to earn an India cap. KL Rahul waited a whole 5 years. Rahane waited 4 and Ravindra Jadeja had to wait 4. So what makes Prithvi Shaw so special that he should get a call just a year later?
How will another season on the domestic circuit hurt anything? What could hurt would be a fast-tracked selection and disappointment on the big stage. Disappointment at the age of 18 may not be as easy to digest.
Video Editor: Vivek Gupta
Cameraperson: Shiv Kumar Maurya
(We Indians have much to talk about these days. But what would you tell India if you had the chance? Pick up the phone and write or record your Letter To India. Don’t be silent, tell her how you feel. Mail us your letter at lettertoindia@thequint.com. We’ll make sure India gets your message.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)