Former U19 World Cup teammates, Shubman Gill and Prithvi Shaw, have taken divergent paths since their triumph in 2018. While Gill has become a pillar of the Indian cricket team, Shaw’s struggles to secure a spot in any national squad have raised concerns.
Shedding light on Shaw’s performance and attitude, Gill’s childhood coach has expressed his disappointment, asserting that Shaw believes he is already a star and untouchable by others.
The Divide in Paths: Shaw’s Misguided Perception
Karsan Ghavri, the coach who guided Gill since he was 11 years old, points out the contrasting trajectories of Gill and Shaw, who were both instrumental in winning the U19 World Cup. Ghavri states, “They were in the same team that won the U-19 World Cup in 2018, right? Today, where is Prithvi Shaw, and where is Shubman Gill? They are in two different categories.” The coach emphasizes that Shaw’s erroneous belief of being invincible poses a significant hurdle to his growth, even at the international level, where a single delivery can lead to dismissal.
Ghavri underscores the crucial role played by discipline and temperament in achieving success at the highest level of cricket. Shaw’s inconsistent performances, both for India and his IPL franchise, have exposed his shortcomings in these vital areas.
Ghavri explains, “To excel, you require discipline and a good temperament. Continuous self-improvement is necessary. The ability to occupy the crease increases your chances of scoring runs.”
Hope for the Future: Shaw Urged to Address Flaws
Despite the current challenges, Ghavri remains optimistic about Shaw’s potential for growth. He urges the young cricketer to address his flaws, invest the necessary effort, and emerge as a stronger player in the future.
Ghavri emphasizes that Shaw, who is of the same age as Gill, still has ample opportunity to rectify his shortcomings. However, without diligent work and improvement, his talent may ultimately go to waste.
Shaw’s struggles continued in the 2023 IPL season, where he experienced a series of disappointing performances for the Delhi Capitals. Despite managing to score a half-century in the final two games, it failed to alter the perception of his overall batting display, as critics remained unconvinced of his abilities.
