Star Mumbai's batter Prithvi Shaw shattered records on Day 2 of the Ranji Trophy match against Assam in Guwahati on Wednesday (January 11). Prithvi followed up his double century on Day 1 with a monstrous 379 off 383 to record the highest individual score by any Mumbai batter in domestic cricketer.
After his 240 on Day 1, he completed his 300 runs on Day as he was edging closer to a record set by former India cricketer Bhausaheb Babasaheb Nimbalkar, who scored 443 not out in 1948. To date, this remains the highest score, and the only quadruple-century, in Indian first-class cricket.
Prithvi first leapfrogged Sunil Gavaskar's 340 against Bengal, then jumped over VVS Laxman's 353 against Karnataka and then broke the two big ones in one go - the highest score for Mumbai in Ranji Trophy and the second-highest score in Ranji history, both previously held by Sanjay Manjrekar, when he smashed 377 against Hyderabad in 1990-91.
Prithvi took this moment to hit back at his critics and said he has been judged by people who hardly know him. He also clarified on the Instagram post which he posted couple of months ago which read, ‘Hope you are watching everything Sai Baba’.
It was nothing but a young man seeking some divine intervention in the time of adversity.
"I think that post was just about if he (Sai Baba) is watching or not. That wasn't for anyone. It was a deeply personal thing," Prithvi said.
Marred by the episode of bad luck, Prithvi has failed to find a spot in India fold despite amassing runs across formats.
"Sometimes, you do get frustrated," he added.
"You know you are doing your things right. You know you are doing your processes right, you are honest with your self, disciplined with your career on and off the field. But sometimes people do talk differently. People who don't even know you judge you," the dejected Prithvi said.
"People who are not with me when I am not doing well, I don't really care about them. Just like to ignore them. That's the best policy," he further added.
Prithvi also opened up on his way of tackling social media trolls.
"I use social media but all my posts are done by my manager, he handles my stories and posts. I dont really see what's going on. I try and shut myself from all this stuff and if I am doing things right and my processes right, this kind of day will come again and again," said the second man after Sachin Tendulkar to hit a Test hundred in his teens.
Talking about match, but just as Prithvi came close to becoming just the second Indian cricketer to cross the threshold of 400 runs in the Ranji Trophy, he lost his wicket to an LBW off the bowling of Riyan Parag, with his score reading 379 runs from 383 balls including 49 fours and four sixes.
Shaw's magical innings ensured that the young opener will end Day 2 with the highest individual score by a Mumbai batter, scoring two more than Sanjay Manjrekar's 377, which was hit in 1991, during the Ranji Trophy match between Mumbai and Hyderabad. This means Prithvi's score is also the second-highest individual score for a batter in the Ranji Trophy.
In doing so, Shaw is also the first player to score a triple century in the Ranji Trophy, a double ton in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and a century in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He also set up a 401-run partnership with Mumbai skipper Ajinkya Rahane, who is unbeaten with 131 runs off 252 balls as Mumbai are running away with the match.
Earlier, Shaw wrapped up Day 1 with an unbeaten 240, including 33 boundaries and a six in his knock and was severe on each and every bowler at the picturesque Amingaon cricket ground.
