IPL 2024: 'Without playing Prithvi Shaw, we won...' - Pravin Amre bluntly justifies batter's exclusion from DC XI

Delhi Capitals batting coach Pravin Amre has given his honest take about Prithvi Shaw as to why he has been unable to break into the playing XI. 

Prithvi Shaw entered IPL 2024 as a retained player for the Delhi Capitals despite a very disappointing 2023 season where had scored just 198 runs. The DC team management led by head coach Ricky Ponting had thought of investing a bit more on Shaw but the Mumbai-born batter hasn't been able to replicate the performances that he is known for. 

In IPL 2024, Prithvi Shaw has already played as many matches as he had played in 2023 - just 8 games.

He has been able to cross the 30-run mark only thrice this season and has also scored only one half-century, that too, in a losing cause against Mumbai Indians. Prithvi Shaw played his last match for DC on April 29th against Kolkata and he won't be in action again this season as DC have played all their league stage matches. 

What did Pravin Amre say about Prithvi Shaw? 

While speaking to the press last night after Delhi picked up a 19-run victory over LSG, Pravin Amre revealed why Prithvi Shaw didn't feature since April 29th. Amre kept it extremely blunt and said that despite being DC's retained player, Shaw could not play the last 5-6 matches, claiming that this is how things go in IPL. 

Amre disclosed that Prithvi Shaw's lack of form and inability to score consistently was the major reason why the management dropped him. The batting coach explained that Delhi were in a delicate as well as pressure situation where they had to make the most out of each and every match. 

In that case, every batter in the line-up had to score but Prithvi Shaw was unable to and that's why he fell down the pecking order. Since Delhi also needed a winning combination Shaw had to pay the ultimate price.  

He [Shaw] was our retained played, and as you see, last four [of five] games he was also on the bench. But that's the IPL. If you are not in form, you can't [keep your place]. Ultimately, the pressure for the team is so much that every game is important and we have to win," Pravin Amre told press reporters in New Delhi. 

Pravin Amre hails Abishek Porel for making the most out of his opportunities 

Pravin Amre then highlighted the player who made the most out of his opportunities during the absence of Prithvi Shaw. Amre hailed Bengal wicket-keeper batsman Abishek Porel for grabbing his chance with open arms and making impactful contributions to the team. 

Before last night, Porel had three 30+ scores and one half-century and yesterday he played a crucial role for his side's victory by scoring 58 runs against LSG. He had also stitched a partnership of 92 runs with Shai Hope which had paved the way for Delhi to amass a 200+ total in front of home fans.   

"And we had done that. Without playing him, we won the games. And whoever got the opportunity... I think Abishek grabbed the opportunities with both hands. I think that's what was so critical and the credit goes to Shai Hope and Porel for getting that 92-run partnership today," Amre concluded.