'He is a terrific player like Sehwag': Michael Clarke heaps praise on Prithvi Shaw

SportsTak

Former Australia skipper Michael Clarke has showered praise on the India's young gun Prithvi Shaw and termed him a terrific player by compared his aggressive style with the great Virender Sehwag in the same breath.

 

Speaking in the documentary 'Down Underdogs' on Sony Ten, Clarke said: "He is a terrific player like Sehwag. Sehwag was a genius, who took the game forward. For someone like me, I love that brand of cricket. That aggressive batsman at the top of the order. That's why Sehwag was one of my favourite players. I would like see India keep faith in him, a player like Prithvi Shaw, knowing he is young."

 

India have produced a clutch of talented youngsters in recent years. Prithvi Shaw is such a name who displayed a great batting performance in the Under-19 and domestic cricket, which handed him the International debut in 2018. Prithvi  made his debut against West Indies in a Test match in 2018, where he scored a century on debut.

 

Shaw was part of the India squad, that toured Australia last year, but the right-hand batsman couldn't deliver in that trip. The Indian opening batsman was dismissed for a duck and four runs in the first and second innings of the series opener against Australia. Shaw only featured in the first Test and was then sidelined for the remaining three Tests against Australia. Since then, Shaw has been overlooked by the selectors, and the opening batsman did not receive a call to the India squad.

 

Clarke reckoned that Shaw needs more time to get settled at the international level for Team India.

 

"It was very hard to have too many expectations from Prithvi Shaw. He needed more time. It was his first opportunity in Australia. You want to give him every chance to see how he goes but unfortunately, he missed out in that Test match in Adelaide. It was his first tour of Australia, and I have no doubt he will come good," he stated.

 

The youngster has been overlooked in each format of the game and next has an opportunity to make it to the Indian cricket team during their home tour against Sri Lanka in March. Before that, the player is likely to be seen in action for the Mumbai cricket team in the upcoming Ranji Trophy season.