I am so happy for Prithvi Shaw, he will learn a lot from playing in England: R Ashwin

India off-spinner R Ashwin said he is delighted for Prithvi Shaw, saying that the young batter will get a fresher perspective about the game and his career when playing in a different country like England. Ashwin cited examples from his own stint in county cricket, saying Prithvi Shaw would be able to learn a lot by meeting new people and teammates in the UK.

Prithvi Shaw has been making waves in the Royal London One-Day Cup 2023, having scored a double hundred and a hundred in his first 4 four matches for Northamptonshire in the premier 50-over domestic tournament.

Prithvi Shaw’s most notable achievement was his maiden double century, where he scored an unbeaten 244 runs off just 153 deliveries during a match between Northamptonshire and Somerset. He then brought up a century before scoring 125 not out in just 76 balls against Durham, establishing himself as the leading run-scorer in the tournament with a total of 429 runs in four innings.

R Ashwin, speaking in his YouTube show, said the stint in England is a breath of fresh air for Prithvi Shaw who has seen quite a few highs and lows in his nascent career at the highest level.

Also Read: ‘Prithvi Shaw is a superstar’

“I am really happy for someone like Prithvi Shaw. In the short span of his career, he has seen a lot of ups and downs. For him, being away from home, playing in England, and meeting new players, will be like a breath of fresh air for him. It will be like a lease of fresh air in his life. There will be a lot of learnings for him. He would learn how to manage his life, and his work ethic. He will be in a position to teach a few youngsters in England as well. Even that can transform his cricket. I am extremely delighted for Prithvi Shaw,” Ashwin said.

Prithvi Shaw’s journey hasn’t been without its share of challenges. After a promising start to his international career, Shaw faced a dip in performance due to struggles with form and consistency. Off-field disciplinary issues, including a violation of the BCCI’s anti-doping guidelines, resulted in an eight-month suspension from cricket. Recurring injuries and fitness concerns also hindered his progress, while technical flaws in his batting technique were identified as areas needing improvement.

On the other hand, Cheteshwar Pujara has continued his golden run with Sussex, hitting 2 hundreds and a fifty-plus score so far in the Royal London One-Day Cup.

R Ashwin joked about his good friend who has had plenty of success in England in County Championship and List A cricket ever since he signed for Sussex in 2022.

“And I guess Pujara is going to get a British passport. He has been playing in England that much and making lots of runs there,” Ashwin said.