India U19 skipper Prithvi Shaw credits Rahul Dravid’s advice for his stellar performance in England

English conditions can get pretty tricky, especially more when you are out batting on the pitch. But Indian U19 batsman and limited overs skipper, Prithvi Shaw successfully sliced and hammered all obstacles out of the park in his recent outing for the country. The youngster has credited this success to the U-19 coach, Rahul Dravid. The former cricketer’s advice subsequently helped the youngsters whitewash the hosts 5-0 in the Youth-ODIs and 2-0 in Youth-Tests.

Shaw made his Ranji Trophy debut for Mumbai last season and came into limelight after scoring a magnificent hundred (120) in the semi-final against Tamil Nadu. However, his recent performance against the Lions serves as a testament to what he is capable of. The U19 skipper emerged as the highest scorer in the Youth Tests with 250 runs which included three half-centuries. In the One Dayers, he scored 160 runs in five games at an average of 32.00.

India prepping up for the U19 World Cup next year

The confidence gained from the tour stands crucial, as the team prepares for the junior Asia Cup assignment in Malaysia in November followed by the ICC U19 World Cup in New Zealand which kicks off in January. Unlike other U19 teams which are subjected to frequent changes, the skipper believes that the current squad in all probability will form the core team for the mega event

Lauding their gaffer, 17-year-old Shaw revealed, “Dravid said that staying close to the body will help us deal with the swing. We had Duke balls (commonly used in the UK) for practise. Sir had also advised us to be patient and wait for the loose deliveries. By the time we reached there, we were mentally prepared.”

The batsman also credited batting coach Woorkeri Raman for the good show. Though he returned to his hometown amid a quiet reception, the silence might as well transform into fireworks in the near future.