India’s current openers are failing to give the kind of start the team needs. What hurts more is that they are not learning from their mistakes and lacking in confidence. These things are making the chances of Prithvi Shaw Test debut stronger.
Current dark times
Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, and Murali Vijay, all have thrown their bats in times of real need. India’s search for a solid opening batsman who can take the team through and win the matches has become more intense than ever before. Nothing brings forth the character of a player better than tough conditions. High-pressure conditions where there is a lot at stake.
This is where India’s top-order batsmen have failed overseas as consistently as the coming of Monday after a weekend.
This pain was amplified manyfold when the Indian fans were made to stare at the dark scoreboard of 22/3 while chasing the target of 245 in the 4th test. This eventually led to India losing by 60 runs. The rest of the team would have got a good morale boost if there was a start of at least 50 runs. It would have been enough to turn a loss into a win.
‘New Cherry Ball’ Storm
What India needs is a technically sound batsman. Someone who is capable of patiently steering the ship through the shiny devastating hurricane called ‘New Cherry Ball’. And then possibly accelerate the innings further when the tough storms slowly wear down.
Though KL Rahul appeared to take the team through, he quickly jumped into the water leaving the ship with a big hole. He left the team vulnerable amidst the dangerous hurricane attack. India fans and especially the gullible middle order must have felt nothing but betrayal on account of Rahul’s acts. Dhawan did honestly try his best and looked better than Rahul, but he too was thrown out of the ship. Murali Vijay has been the nightmare we all want to forget.
Will India find a new gem?
Pearls are found in the deep dark oceans and so are diamonds and gold found in the deep dark mines. Will India find a cricketing gem in these deep dark times of their England tour? In these times, no opening batsman is able to provide a solid footing to the innings.
These bad knocks of star players have set the path for the debut of the 18-year-old Prithvi Shaw. Shaw recently captained and won all the matches for India in the recent U-19 world cup. Not to mention that he achieved this feat in the same dangerous conditions in England.
Prithvi Shaw has played 14 first-class matches with an average of 56.72 scoring seven centuries. He also played 19 List-A matches with an average of 34.96 scoring a couple of tons. Worth mentioning is the innings of 188 runs in a first-class match and another ton of 102 runs in a List A match against West Indies A. Also the 132-run knock against Leicester.
All these hundreds came a few months ago in England. This clearly hints that the gold has already been heated and tested enough. What India may now get is a high-grade gold opening batsman hopefully with no hidden impurities.
Challenges and Pressures
Fortunately, there will be less pressure on Shaw. Because India would not be under the burden of saving the series from losing. It was the case in the last match. The series winner has already been decided. Both teams may now feel free to test some of the other members in their squad who did not play yet in the series.
The pressure will also be less as the star senior players like Dhawan and Rahul themselves have failed in these conditions. Not many would care if the young Shaw fails too.
So the stage is almost perfect for Prithvi’s international debut. Agreed the pressure will be less. But the intensity with which the game will be played will definitely be at the optimum level, if not more.
World no.1 team would try every tactic under their belly to overturn the opponent’s ship and get back their glory. The English team knows this well and will try to do the same. They would want to hold the Specsavers series cup with their heads held high. England squad will also try their best to give a memorable send off to the great Alastair Cook.
Prithvi is all set to enter the deep dark cloudy conditions. And Indian fans have nothing to lose. Either he will disappoint as have other star openers or India will discover a new diamond. Hopefully, shielding the team from the swinging cherry ball attack. Prithvi has impressed everyone in ICC Under-19 World cup, Duleep Trophy, Ranji Trophy, and IPL. I am sure he will delight cricket fans in his test match debut too. What do you guys think? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section.
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