Prithvi has a long way to go says father Pankaj

A week ago, the Prithvi Shaw led India under-19 team departed for New Zealand for the U-19 World Cup. Sitting alongside Coach Rahul Dravid at a five star hotel in Mumbai and addressing the press, the youngster looked confident donning the Blue colours. With three centuries in the Ranji Trophy under his belt at age 18, he has good reason to be so. But at the other end of Mumbai, his father Pankaj Shaw, who would be be watching his son on television, is still not satisfied with his son’s performance and says he still has a lot to prove.

Pankaj gave up his business 14 years ago to focus primarily on building his son’s cricketing career after the batsman’s mother passed away. Ironically, he does not understand cricket much and his only activity is to drop Prithvi at the academy and then pick him up. The colt is making rapid strides in the cricketing world but his father is still expecting much more.

“He still has a lot to achieve. Once he comes back home with the World Cup trophy, I will be satisfied,” says Pankaj who will be watching the matches alone in his home in Kalina.

“People often say that he has achieved so much but I feel that he still has a long way to go. It’s only with proper focus on the game and training, will he reach the big league,” he adds.

For his performances, Prithvi has drawn comparisons to Sachin Tendulkar as both share the same hometown. The youngster has cemented his position in the Mumbai team and with the Indian Premier League auctions being held later in January, the opener could be one name that could go for a high price.

The Shaw-led team will play their first warm up match against South Africa U-19 in Christchurch on January 9, followed by another practice game against the Kenya U-19 team.

The opener will look forward to impressing his father, who will be watching the games on television back home.