Prithvi Shaw shouldn’t change his attacking game, says Ajinkya Rahane

He came close to making his Test debut in England but saw colleague Hanuma Vihari getting an earlier introduction to the longer format. However, things look more certain for teenager Prithvi Shaw to represent India in international cricket for the first time in the home series against the Windies starting October 4. According to the side’s vice-captain and Shaw’s Mumbai mate Ajinkya Rahane, the lad shouldn’t curb his attacking game if he gets to play. The first Test will be played in Rajkot while the second will be held in Hyderabad.

Shaw, who is having a memorable 2018, got his first India call during the Test series in England. He replaced out-of-form opener Murali Vijay for the final two Tests although many formers believed that it was better to play him in home conditions first. Shaw is likely to open with KL Rahul, who had a terrible series in England till the hundred in the final Test, against the Caribbeans.

Rahane happy for Prithvi Shaw

“I am happy for Shaw. I have seen him since his young days, we used to practise together, he is an attacking opener and done well for India A and got the reward,” Rahane, who himself had an average series in England, said during the pre-match press conference. Shaw has a strike rate of 76-plus in first-class cricket and 115-plus in List A games.

Rahane, however, stopped short of remarking on who among Shaw and Mayank Agarwal will partner Rahul in Rajkot where the first Test will be played. Agarwal, who has been scoring consistently in domestic circuits for some time now, got his maiden India call and replaced Shikhar Dhawan in the squad.

“Personally we don’t know the combination what we are going to play. But there is no pressure, it is an opportunity for every individual to express ourselves. I wish him good luck and I am sure he will do well,” Rahane said. The middle-order batsman himself had an ordinary outing in England but recently hit form by scoring a 79 not out and 148 for Mumbai in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy.