Former Sri Lanka batsman Russel Arnold believes India opener Prithvi Shaw may outshine everyone and be the difference between winning and losing in the upcoming limited-overs fixtures between India and Sri Lanka. Arnold said India have the likes of Shikhar Dhawan and Hardik Pandya in their side but he would go ‘out of the box’ and name Shaw as the player to watch out for in the upcoming three ODIs and three T20Is.
For Sri Lanka, I will go with Avishka Fernando at the top of the order. Let me go outside the box with India. Of course, you will be looking at Dhawan and Pandyas to perform but I’m thinking Prithvi Shaw might get a run. Helpfully he will prove me right by entertaining everyone,” Arnold said when asked to name game-changers from both the sides.
Shaw, who in all likelihood will partner Shikhar Dhawan at the top of the order for India in the first ODI at Colombo on Sunday, is looking to press the reset button on his international career.
The talented right-hander, who started his Test career with a hundred on debut against the West Indies, was dropped after failing in the first Test against Australia. His shortcomings against in-coming deliveries were laid bare.Shaw, however, worked on his batting and came back strong at the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The right-hander smashed a record 827 runs in 8 matches at an average of 165 to lead Mumbai to the title. That those runs came at a strike rate of 138.29 spoke volumes about his destructive nature as an opener.
The subtle changes in technique also came in handy. His bat was coming down a lot straighter, his head was still at the point of contact and his front foot was non-committal. Shaw carried the same form for Delhi Capitals in the IPL before a virus outbreak postponed the tournament till September.
There have been a lot of talk about India sending a side minus Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Japrit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, and Mohammed Shami to Sri Lanka. The 1996 World Cup-winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga even termed it as an ‘insult’ to his country. Arnold, however, said he was jealous that India have all these young cricketers to back their big stars.
“I just feel jealous that India have those cricketers. Even this team, we’ve seen them play. We’ve seen the quality they bring. There is a lot of experience too in Shikhar Dhawan, the Pandyas, spinners Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav. There’s a lot of exciting prospects,” Arnold told Hindustan Times.