Prithvi Shaw’s bad time has just yet begun at Delhi Capitals? Ricky Ponting reveals youngster’s future at the franchise

There is debate around Prithvi Shaw’s inclusion in the XI for Delhi Capitals‘s next match against Chennai Super Kings in Vizag on Sunday. This is Delhi’s third game of the season. The franchise is placed ninth on the table after losses to Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals. 

Delhi Capitals decided to open with David Warner and Mitchell Marsh in the first two games. However, they did not add too many runs for the first wicket adding 30 against the Kings and 39 against Rajasthan Royals. As it turned out Delhi lost both their first two games and is under pressure heading into their game against CSK. 

Prithvi Shaw scored just 106 runs in the IPL last season at an average of 13.25 across 8 games. Delhi not starting with Shaw has been a major talking point. Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting explained the reason behind not picking Shaw to maintain the composition of the side.

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We Will Look At Prithvi Shaw In Training And Then Consider: Ricky Ponting

“Our team make-up in the first game without (Anrich) Nortje allowed us to play four overseas batsmen. So, by doing that, we pushed Mitchell Marsh to the top of the order, which pushed Prithvi out. We will look at Prithvi at training today and see how well he plays. If he impresses everybody, we will consider him for tomorrow,” said Ponting ahead of DC’s next game. 

Speaking at the pre-match presser Ricky Ponting said that Shaw is putting the hard years at training sessions to improve on his fitness. The batter has not scored a fifty in his last 14 innings in the IPL for the Capitals. He had his poorest season last year when he averaged below 15 and played just 8 games. He was benched for the majority of the second half last season. 

“Yeah, he’s definitely pushing for it,” he said. “He has worked hard in the last couple of weeks. Obviously, our team make-up in the first game without obviously [Anrich] Nortje being in allowed us to play four overseas batsmen” said Ponting. 

There have been enough talks about Shaw not putting enough work into his body to look fitter and better. His health and his physique have been two major talking points why he has not been given a consistent run in the Indian team. The batter also has been injury-prone in recent times tearing his ligament before making a comeback in the Rani Trophy.

Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Tom Moody, the former SRH coach tried to find the rationale behind Shaw’s non-selection. He said that his low returns in the recent past in the IPL are one of the reasons why he is not being considered at the moment. Capitals Director of Cricket Sourav Ganguly also eluded to the fact that the management has not had enough time to work with Shaw on improving his fitness. 

“To be honest, we did not get much of Prithvi Shaw in the camp. Unfortunately, he was injured for a long time. After he went to England for the county stint in Northamptonshire where he played exceptionally well and tore his ligament in the knee, we couldn’t get him till February. After he came back to fitness, he played Ranji Trophy” Ganguly said.

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