Virender Sehwag Reacts To Ricky Ponting's Decision Of Dropping Prithvi Shaw From Playing XI

Former India opener Virender Sehwag has praised Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting for giving a break to out-of-form Prithvi Shaw in the ongoing Indian Premier League.

Shaw was dropped from the playing eleven for Saturday’s clash against Kolkata Knight Riders with Ajinkya Rahane taking his place. The youngster had started the tournament on a good note. He had two fifties in the first four games before playing a 42-run knock against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

But his form soon dipped as he registered two ducks in three innings before being dropped for the KKR clash. And Virender Sehwag was all praise for Ponting for giving the youngster a much-needed break. Virender Sehwag also said that the Delhi coach would continue to back the opener.

“Ricky Ponting will continue to back Prithvi Shaw, but he has been in poor form in the past few games and hence he has been given a break because of the form,” Virender Sehwag said on Cricbuzz.

“Sometimes, a batsman develops a mindset that no matter what I am doing it is not working in my favour. So, at the time, you either take a break yourself, or someone gives you a break, it works best for everyone,” he added.

Sehwag shares own experience:

Virender Sehwag, one of India’s greatest-ever openers, further recalled his own experience when he was not given a break despite losing his form. The batting legend revealed how his former captains Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly kept him in the playing eleven despite his constant struggles.

“I share my own story when back in 2006, I was not able to score any runs. But still Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly kept me in the playing XI. I kept telling them that I am not being able to perform, I am not being able to score runs.

“So, give me a break. Instead of giving me a break, in one series, I was made the captain,” recalled Virender Sehwag.

“The mental phase and thinking of a player is very important. If you yourself are confused, and you are not being able to score runs, and you don’t have any other way to get runs.

“So, at this time it is better to take a break from cricket, to think how you can pursue your batting, and how you make your plans against other teams. So the break always work. So, it is a good decision made by Ricky Ponting to give Shaw a break,” he added.

Meanwhile, Delhi Capitals lost to KKR by 59 runs. Shaw’s replacement Rahane failed to deliver too as the national capital-based outfit managed to score only 135 for 9 while chasing 195.

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