'He will have to work on his fitness' - Aakash Chopra's piece of advice for Prithvi Shaw

Team India endured the ignominy of a series whitewash for the first time in a three-match ODI series. The writing was always on the way given India’s mind-numbing team-selections, shoddy fielding, misfiring top-order, lack of form of two of their premier players in skipper Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, and the newfound confidence by the New Zealanders post registering back-to-back victories in Hamilton and Eden Park, Auckland.

One of the major issues that Team India encountered in the series was the lack of potent starts by their opening pair of Mayank Agarwal and Prithvi Shaw, which was only compounded by Virat Kohli’s dry run with the bat. Leading into the series, one of the things that everyone was looking forward was to see how Prithvi Shaw fares in his debut series.

The teenager showed flashes of brilliance but was unable to convert his starts into a substantial inning. Shaw had another opportunity to get that right in the third game at the Bay Oval when he breezed his way to a 42-ball 40- an innings glittered with three fours and two sixes. But, it all came to an abrupt end in the 13th over when, Shaw, after having steered the ball to the leg-side went for the second run but was run-out by a considerable margin.

Aakash Chopra advises Prithvi Shaw to work on his fitness

The margin with which Shaw fell short surprised formed Indian opener-turned commentator Aakash Chopra. Chopra took to social media to express his bewilderment before going on to advice Shaw that the precocious young talent needs to work on his fitness.

“There was a relatively easy second run available. It was his own call too. Surprised by the margin Prithvi fell short. Special talent to hit the ball but will have to work on his fitness. #Prithvi #NZvInd” Aakash Chopra wrote on his Twitter account.

There was a relatively easy second run available. It was his own call too. Surprised by the margin Prithvi fell short. Special talent to hit the ball but will have to work on his fitness. #Prithvi #NZvInd

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 11, 2020

This is not the first time that question marks have galore on Shaw’s fitness. During the 2018-19 Australian tour, it was alleged that the team-management wasn’t impressed with Shaw’s work ethics during his rehabilitation stage.

Meanwhile, Shaw will now be competing for the 2nd opener’s slot with Shubman Gill in the upcoming Test series which starts in Wellington from February 21.