New Delhi: Prithvi Shaw took a longer route to make a comeback to the Indian team after being passed over by the selectors following a forgettable IPL 2023 season, the West Indies tour, and the Asian Games. He traveled to London to join Northamptonshire and participate in the Royal London One Day Cup.
His debut on Friday, however, did not go as he probably had hoped because he was strangely dismissed after making 34 in the group B match against Gloucestershire in Cheltenham.
Following the assignment of a 279-point target, Northamptonshire had a terrible start. In the tenth over, Northamptonshire was down five for just 30 runs before Shaw and captain Lewis McManus attempted to rally the team.
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However, the Indian batter's untimely departure brought the 24-run run to an unfortunate end.
Shaw attempted to pull hook the final ball of the 16th over from Gloucestershire bowler Paul van Meekeren over fine leg for a big one but was unable to make contact.
He accidentally kicked his own stumps as a result of losing his balance while doing this, which led to his dismissal via hit wicket.
Shaw's first stint away from home and in the English county circuit was announced by Northamptonshire on Monday.
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“It’s a great opportunity for me and I’m really thankful to Northamptonshire for giving me this chance to express myself here,” Shaw said. “It’s going to be amazing I think and I’m really looking forward to it.”
He played in a practice match before making his debut on Friday and scored a huge 39-ball 65 in it. The club later shared a video of it with the caption: “Getting straight down to business. A rapid 65 off just 39 balls for Prithvi in the 2XI this morning."
Since being a member of the Indian second-string team for the tour of Sri Lanka in July 2021, Shaw has not worn the Indian jersey.
A phenomenal domestic run led to the young player's recall for a home T20I series earlier this year, but Shubman Gill, India's preferred opener, prevented him from making the starting XI.
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