What A Player - Aakash Chopra Says There Is No Other Batsman Like Prithvi Shaw In Entire India

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra lavished rich praises on Prithvi Shaw’s rare intent and approach, and the skill to execute it after the diminutive opener blasted 43 runs off just 24 balls in the first ODI against Sri Lanka on Sunday.

The right-hander was given the Man of the Match for his impactful performance, which effectively sealed the chase, despite two other batsmen scoring more runs than him.

Aakash Chopra likened Shaw to former destructive opener Virender Sehwag, but he hailed Shaw as a unique batsman in India.

“It seemed the momentum will be with Sri Lanka but Prithvi came, Prithvi ‘Shaw’, Prithvi conquered. He is from a different planet. I am a huge Prithvi Shaw fan because you will not get a batsman like that in entire India,” Aakash Chopra said in his YouTube video.

After getting dropped from the Test team last year in Australia, Shaw stormed into the white-ball setup with thunderous displays in Vijay Hazare Trophy – 827 runs at an average of 165.4 – and the IPL 2021 – 308 runs in 8 innings while striking at 166.49.

“Viru (Virender Sehwag) used to be there but this player, 43 runs in just 24 balls, and it seemed without breaking a sweat, without taking chances, only on the rise and through the gap. I mean what a player. 2021 has been in this player’s name, from the Vijay Hazare Trophy to the IPL to now,” he added.

He had a chance today to convert it into 140: Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra opined that Shaw squandered a chance to make a big score – perhaps a hundred – as he got out caught at long-on while trying to hit a big shot against spinner Dhananjaya de Silva.

This, however, came after he had been knocked on the head by a bouncer in the previous over by fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera.

“However, when he got hit on the head, he got a little rattled and then played a bad shot to get out. He will think about this, that these 43 runs are pretty and explosive but people tend to forget 40-odd runs. He had a chance today to convert it into 140. You have let that chance slip away from your hands,” the commentator stated.

The second ODI is scheduled for Tuesday at the same venue.

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