IPL 2021: Ricky Ponting lauds Prithvi Shaw for marking an epic comeback against CSK

On April 10, Saturday, Delhi Capitals were up against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the second match of the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). It was a memorable game for the young Rishabh Pant as he donned the skipper’s hat for the first time. Delhi started its campaign in IPL 2021 with a victory as they scripted a stunning win against the Super Kings by seven wickets. 

One of the highlights of DC’s batting innings was the comeback of young opening batsman Prithvi Shaw. Shaw had a forgettable run in IPL 2020 as he could score only 228 runs at an average of 17.53 and strike rate of 136.52. This was followed by the 21-year-old getting dropped from India’s Test XI after featuring in just one game against Australia.

The failure resulted in Shaw working hard on his technique and scripting an epic comeback in the 2021 edition of the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Prithvi emerged as the highest run-scorer of the domestic tournament as he ended up with 800 runs and became the first cricketer in history to do so.

Outstanding performance, brilliant team effort: Ricky Ponting

The youngster carried his blistering form in IPL too as in the first match against CSK, Shaw scored 72 runs off 38 deliveries at a strike rate of 189.47. Delhi’s head coach Rinky Ponting seemed impressed with the youngster and reckoned that Prithvi Shaw can learn a lot from his innings.

“Prithvi, it was awesome and you have got so much to learn from that one inning. You can go into the next game thinking about nothing, you will get runs again. So, you got plenty to learn from that innings, it was awesome,” said Ponting in his first dressing room speech in a video uploaded on DC’s Twitter handle.

Further in the video, Ponting also congratulated Rishabh Pant for his first game as a skipper and lauded the whole team for the brilliant effort. “Outstanding performance, brilliant team effort. Rishabh’s first game as captain, he did a fantastic job mate, congratulations. Bowlers upfront, Woakes he set the tone early on,” said Ponting.

“Wicket in the second over of the innings. Followed up by Avesh, who ended up knocking over two international captains, mate awesome job, well done,” he added.