ENG vs IND 2018: India Should Play Prithvi Shaw In The Last Test: Dilip Vengsarkar

Former India batsman Dilip Vengsarkar should not delay in handing debut to Prithvi Shaw, urging them to pick the youngster for the upcoming fifth England vs India Test.

Seen by many as the next big thing in Indian cricket, Shaw has not looked back since making his first-class debut. The 18-year old made his first-class debut for Mumbai in the semi-finals of the 2016–17 Ranji Trophy on 1 January 2017. He had gone on to score a century in the second innings to showcase his immense potential.

He also scored a century in his debut match of the Duleep Trophy. Shaw equaled the record held by Sachin Tendulkar, who had scored for the first time a century each in his debut matches of Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy respectively. He then led India to Under-19 World Cup title and impressed in the Indian Premier League.

Shaw then went on to impress for India A in the last couple of months. In a first-class game against West Indies ‘A’ in Beckenham, he scored 188 in addition to notching up two centuries and a half century in the List A games on the ‘A’ tour to England. He recently scored another first-class century against South Africa in Bengaluru.

And the stunning run helped him earn his first call from the senior side at the age of just 18. He replaced out-of-form Murali Vijay in the 18-member Indian squad.

Dilip Vengsarkar now feels the team-management should play the youngster in the final Test which is a dead rubber. At the same time, he said that grooming Shaw in home series would been a better a option.

“Since they have selected young Prithvi Shaw, they should play him in the last Test match as both the openers failed time and again, though I feel it would be right to induct Prithvi in a home series rather than in England. However, the selectors have shown confidence in him and since the series is lost, there’s no harm in trying the talented young man,” he told Mumbai Mirror.

Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul have continued to disappoint as openers. And with the final match being inconsequential, the time looks really right for India to give Shaw a run-in in Test cricket. The fifth and final Test would get underway on September 7 at The Oval.