How dad's advice helped Shaw regain form

Prithvi Shaw’s six fours in the very first over set off Shivam Mavi up Delhi Capitals' easy win over Kolkata Knight Riders in their Indian Premier League match in Ahmedabad on Thursday

The DC opener said he knew where pacer Mavi would bowl and was prepared for it.

Shaw sent all the six legal deliveries from opening bowler Mavi to the boundary and went on to score 82 off just 41 deliveries to help DC beat KKR by seven wickets.

"I wasn't thinking anything to be honest. I was just waiting for the loose balls. I knew where Shivam will bowl, we've played (in age-group) together for four-five years," Shaw said at the post-match presentation.

"The first four-five balls he bowled were half-volleys, so I was prepared for the short ball but he didn't bowl."

He scored most of the runs on the off-side and asked about it, Shaw said, "On this wicket especially when the spinner is bowling it wasn't coming very nicely onto the bat. It was stopping a little.

"So, I was waiting for them to bowl at me on off stump or outside so I can free my hands.

"When I'm in there, I keep playing and don't think about the score. Don't think about myself, just want the team to win," said the 21-year-old who was named Man of the Match.

Asked about the ups and downs he has faced recently. Shaw said, "My dad has supported very well. After getting back from Australia, I wasn't happy with myself. My dad just asked me to play my natural game. He said ‘sometimes when talent doesn’t work you have to work a little hard’.

"All these words allowed me to set a target and I worked hard. In cricket the graphs are going to go up and down, a lot of failures are going to come my way."

Asked if he has ever spoken to former India opener Virender Sehwag, with whom he has similarities in batting approach, Shaw said, "No, I haven't spoken yet but if I get a chance I'd like to because he's the one who likes to score off the first ball."

Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant said Shaw is a talented player and he can do wonders if he is confident about himself.

"I was only telling him to play the normal game. In this kind of match we can afford to think of run rate. Only thing we talk with youngsters is to just enjoy cricket, do your best," Pant said.

Asked how he is managing the ups and downs as a captain, Pant said, "Last match we only lost by one run, so as a team we talk about we don't have to change anything. Definitely enjoying captaincy."