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'He's up there with the best in terms of ball-striking': Prithvi Shaw earns profound admiration from John Sadler

Team India's out-of-favour batter Prithvi Shaw is making headway in England's One-Day Cup competition at the moment with sensational strokeplay and outrageous ball-striking capability.

SportsTak

• Tue • 15 Aug 2023

Team India's out-of-favour batter Prithvi Shaw is making headway in England's One-Day Cup competition at the moment with sensational strokeplay and outrageous ball-striking capability. After smashing a double century and a ton, Shaw has earned profound admiration from Northamptonshire's players and coach John Sadler, who lauded the Indian batter for his winning mentality. Sadler admired and touted Shaw's ball-striking ability as one of the best in the world.

"Humble is the perfect word to describe Prithvi Shaw. He's gracious and respectful, he's loved being a part of the team. We're loving having him here as well," Sadler said.

"His skill speaks for itself, he's a superstar. He's as good as I've seen in 25 years of playing this game. He's up there with the best in terms of ball-striking. He genuinely wants to win games of cricket and has been a star in the dressing room," he added.

Shaw's impeccable form was evident as he amassed a rapid 125 not out from a mere 76 deliveries, punctuating his innings with 15 boundary shots and an impressive tally of seven maximums. This stellar performance ensured Northants sailed past the 198-run target with significant ease against Durham on August 13.

It's worth noting that on August 9, the dynamic batter from Mumbai had produced a jaw-dropping 244 off 153 deliveries, an innings peppered with 28 fours and 11 sixes. This masterclass had previously set the stage for Northamptonshire's commanding 87-run win over Somerset.

Given his recent prolific form, many are speculating about Shaw's potential return to the Indian cricket team. The last time the right-handed batsman represented India was during a T20I match against Sri Lanka in 2021. Seeking to find his rhythm and regain his spot in the national side, Shaw participated in the Duleep Trophy for the West Zone last month. However, he couldn't replicate the same magic and left a limited mark in that tournament.

Nonetheless, with his back-to-back powerful performances for Northamptonshire, Shaw's resurgence is sending a strong message, positioning him as a contender for an imminent comeback into the Indian squad.