Indian batting prodigy Prithvi Shaw’s demolition in IPL return

He’s been touted as one of India’s future superstars and 21-year-old Prithvi Shaw proved exactly why with an explosive demolition in the IPL.

Indian batting prodigy Prithvi Shaw.

Following last year’s disappointing Indian Premier League campaign, Delhi Capitals young gun Prithvi Shaw has started the 2021 tournament with a scintillating knock against the Chennai Super Kings in Mumbai.

Since bursting onto the international scene in 2018 with a Test century on debut, Shaw has been touted as a future superstar of the sport.

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But the opening batsman endured a horror 2020 IPL, registering just 228 runs in 13 knocks, averaging 17.53 and passing fifty twice.

Shaw was then dropped from the Indian Test side following the infamous day-night Test at Adelaide Oval, where he was dismissed for zero and four.

Opening the batting alongside Indian powerhouse Shikhar Dhawan on Saturday evening, Shaw silenced his doubters with an explosive 72 off 38 balls, his knock featuring nine boundaries and three sixes.

It was the 21-year-old’s highest IPL score since 2019, helping Ricky Ponting’s Capitals secure a comfortable seven-wicket victory in their season opener.

“I had a good plan before going into that tournament, so it is working quite well,” Shaw said after the win.

“I have to improve and I am working hard on myself.”

The Grade Cricketer’s Sam Perry tweeted: “Had always wondered what Prithvi Shaw runs looked like. Now understand the hype. Another one to to be frightened of for the next decade.”

SHAWshank Redemption! #DCvsCSK#IPL2021#PrithviShawpic.twitter.com/SToLgILNkX

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) April 10, 2021

A Saturday treat for the eye from the young Turk and the Senior Pro - @PrithviShaw@SDhawan25#DelhiCapitals#IPL2021#CSKvsDCpic.twitter.com/QXKz73tcHp

— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) April 10, 2021

Rishabh Pant leads his team to victory in his first match as captain 🔥👏🏼 Delhi Capitals win by 7 wickets. The Shaw/Dhawan partnership was outstanding. #CSKvDC#IPL2021

— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) April 10, 2021

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Ponting spoke to cricket.com.au this week about how he didn’t always see eye-to-eye with Shaw during last year’s form slump.

“He had an interesting theory on his batting last year — when he’s not scoring runs, he won’t bat, and when he is scoring runs, he wants to keep batting all the time,” Ponting said.

“He had four or five games where he made under 10 and I’m telling him, ‘We have to go to the nets and work out (his issues)’, and he looked me in the eye and said, ‘No, I’m not batting today’.

“I couldn’t really work that out.

“I challenged him and he stuck to his word and he didn’t practice much at all towards the back-end of the tournament, and didn’t get many runs towards the back-end of the tournament either.”

Delhi restricted the Super Kings to 7/188 in the first innings, with veteran batsman Suresh Raina top-scoring with 54.

Shaw and Dhawan then combined for a destructive 138-run opening partnership before Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant guided the side home with eight balls to spare.

Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis claimed 0/26 from his two overs with the ball before contributing 14 during the run chase.

The Sunrisers Hyderabad will face the Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday evening, the first ball scheduled for midnight AEST.