In the International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 World Cup opener against Australia, the Indian skipper Prithvi Shaw led his team to 328 runs for seven wickets. Shaw scored 94 runs and shared a 180-run stand with the Indian opener Manjot Kalra (86).
In his 94 run-knock, Shaw faced 100 balls and hit two sixes and eight boundaries. When the skipper was rattling Aussie bowling attacks, there were few moments that reminded cricket lovers of legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.
When Shaw played an outstanding drive off the front foot, the commentator, Ian Bishop said, “That is Tendulkar.”
Huge praise by Ian Bishop after this shot from Prithvi Shaw, calling it ‘that is tendulkar’ #U19CWC pic.twitter.com/zVkyY0knfj
— Gav Joshi (@Gampa_cricket) January 14, 2018
Once upon a time we had Sunil Gavaskar, then came along Sachin Tendulkar, Now we have Virat Kohli while the future is bringing us this young lad Prithiv Shaw. A legendary batsman for each generation,
That straight Drive is so remincient of Sachin. #INDvsAUS #U19CWC pic.twitter.com/3tPygg4V9q— Chittu (@chittushetty) January 14, 2018
Prithvi shaw reminds so much of sachin tendulkar. Even he got dismissed on nervous nineties.#U19CWC 😝
— Anjani Singh ♜ (@ANJANI_KSINGH) January 14, 2018
Prithvi shaw’s elegance and bat flow reminds me and @OneTipOneHand_ of Sachin Tendulkar.
— अंकित जैन (@indiantweeter) January 14, 2018
Great praise of Prithvi Shaw by Ian Bishop after noticing a shot ‘He is Tendulkar’. This is probably the greatest honor a person can get during his cricket career. @sachin_rt @PrithviShawClub #CWCU19 #U19CWC #INDvAUS
— Mahendra Jain (@mahendra111972) January 14, 2018
Woke up in the morning turned on tv and saw prithvi shaw cover driving and straight driving and i pinched myself to see if it really is prithvi shaw or m I watching sachin tendulkar old vintage
— Subhajit Sen (@Subhajit_Sen19) January 14, 2018
Prithvi Shaw looks exactly like Sachin Tendulkar #FutureStars
— Hardliner (@KaranRamphal) January 14, 2018
The splendid top-order batting vindicated Shaw’s decision to bat in their tournament-opener.
There was no respite for the Australian bowlers even after departure of Shaw and Kalra with Shubhman Gill tormenting the bowlers with his 63-run knock.
It was not that Shaw and Klara plundered boundaries, instead they raised their knocks with some stupendous risk- free batting.
Shaw, though, missed out on a century by six runs, as he was caught behind off Will Sutherland, son of former Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland.
The Indian captain faced 100 balls and scored eight boundaries, including two sixes in his knock.
His opening partner also missed out on a ton, falling for 86 which came off 99 balls with 12 shots to the fence and on over the ropes.
There were no steady partnerships after their departure even as Gill kept one end solid with his 54-ball knock, which had six fours and a six.
The middle order batsmen lost their wickets trying to accelerate the run rate as Himanshu Rana (14) and Anukul Roy (6) fell cheaply. Abhishek Sharma managed to come up with a 8-ball 23-run cameo which propelled India past the 300-run mark. He hit two sixes and as many fours.
As Indian batsmen looked for some quick runs, Australian medium fast bowler Jack Edwards ended up taking four wickets.
It was Edwards, who dismissed Rana and then later added wickets of Abhishek and Shiva Singh (10) to his tally.
-With PTI inputs