'If you want to talk to someone, you have to approach' - Virender Sehwag advises Prithvi Shaw to talk to seniors to come out of slump

Delhi Capitals opening batter Prithvi Shaw made a remarkable return to form in IPL 2023 as he scored a splendid half-century against Punjab Kings on Wednesday, May 17. Opening the innings with captain David Warner, Shaw played a brilliant knock of 54 off 38 balls smashing seven fours and a six in his innings. It was a brilliant comeback for the 23-year-old in the ongoing season after he had a terrible start scoring just 47 runs in the first six innings.

Talking about Shaw’s rough patch, former India cricketer Virender Sehwag has said that he had met with him and Shubman Gill during an ad shoot where they spent six hours with each other. However, none of the young batters talked to him about cricket.

“He (Prithvi Shaw) did an ad shoot with me. Shubman Gill was also there. None of them talked about cricket for once. We were there for 6 hours. If you want to talk to someone then you have to approach them,” Sehwag said on Cricbuzz.

Sehwag then gave his own example and revealed how he had arranged a meeting with the legendary Sunil Gavaskar during his early days. He further said that young players need to make that effort and approach big players and take their guidance.

“When I was new to the team, I wanted to talk to Sunny Bhai (Gavaskar), So I said to John Wright that ‘I’m still a new player, I don’t know whether Sunny Bhai will meet me or not’, but you should organize that meeting. So Wright organised a dinner in 2003-04 for me and I also said that my (opening) partner Aakash Chopra will also come so that we can talk about batting. So he came and had dinner with us. So, you have to make that effort. Sunil Gavaskar won’t make an effort to talk to Sehwag or Chopra. You have to request him,” he added.

If you are not fit mentally or don’t tune your mind. Then nothing can be done: Sehwag

India’s first triple centurion further said that if Shaw had requested someone, he would have got good guidance from someone.

“If Shaw handed such a request so I’m sure someone would have…he is playing for Delhi, so if you wanted to talk, he should have handed a request to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of DC. In cricket, no matter how talented you are. If you are not mentally up, if you are not fit mentally or don’t tune your mind. Then nothing can be done,” he added,” he concluded.

Notably, Shaw last played for India in July 2021 and was not selected for the team again until January 2023 for the T20I series against New Zealand. In the Ranji Trophy 2022-23, he entered record books and scored the second-highest individual score (379) in Ranji Trophy history. With the ODI World Cup scheduled this year, Shaw is facing tough competition from other young batters who’ve shone in IPL 2023, for a place in the Indian team.