Indian batsman Prithvi Shaw has recently inked a contract with Northamptonshire, marking an exciting new phase in his cricket career. The 23-year-old will not only participate in the remainder of the County Cricket season in England but will also be a key player in the upcoming Royal London One-Day Cup, set to kick off in August. Shaw is expected to join the Northamptonshire squad after the conclusion of the Duleep Trophy, where he is currently representing the strong West Zone team.
Background and Current Form
Despite facing setbacks in his international career, Shaw has continued to excel as a prolific run-scorer for his state side, Mumbai, across all formats of the game. His ability to score runs swiftly has been instrumental in his rise through the ranks since his notable performance in the Under-19 World Cup for India in 2018. While he had an impressive debut in Test cricket, including a century, he faced challenges adapting to the quality of bowling in the international red-ball format.
After being out of the first-choice selection for India, Shaw seized the opportunity to reclaim his position when a second-string side was sent to Sri Lanka in 2021. More recently, Shaw represented the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2023, where he encountered a brief struggle with his batting form, unable to surpass 15 runs in six consecutive games. However, he made a strong comeback later in the tournament, scoring a valuable half-century.
Joining Northamptonshire and Domestic Cricket in the UK
Shaw’s move to Northamptonshire presents an exciting prospect as he ventures into domestic cricket in the United Kingdom for the first time. Northamptonshire competes in Division One of the English County Championship and has been striving for improved performances this season. With only one victory out of seven matches played thus far, the team aims to make significant strides in the remaining fixtures.
Notably, Shaw will be the fifth Indian cricketer to participate in England’s 2022-23 season. Cheteshwar Pujara (Sussex), Ajinkya Rahane (Leicestershire), Arshdeep Singh (Kent), and Navdeep Saini (Worcestershire) are the other talented Indian players showcasing their skills in the English county circuit.
Shaw’s Dominance in White-Ball Cricket
Shaw’s explosive batting style and proficiency in white-ball cricket make him a highly sought-after player in limited-overs formats. His ability to hit through the line of the ball with ease has been a major contributing factor to his success. With an impressive average of 52.54 and a strike rate of 123.27 in List A cricket, Shaw has accumulated close to 3000 runs. He has also registered eight centuries, including a double hundred, further solidifying his reputation as a formidable force in the shorter format of the game.
In fact, former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir, in 2022, expressed his belief that Shaw possesses the potential to captain the national team in the future, highlighting his immense talent and leadership qualities.
Source: ESPN
