"Can't Bat Like Cheteshwar Pujara, He Can't...": Prithvi Shaw Takes Shot At Critics

After a bright start to his career, Prithvi Shaw has now slipped down the pecking order in the Indian team but the Mumbai youngster on Saturday said he is banking on his natural "aggressive" game to score runs and earn his place back in the national side. Shaw last appeared for India in a T20I match against Sri Lanka at Colombo in July 2021. "Personally, I feel I don't have to change my game, but a little smarter than what I am. I can't bat like Pujara sir bats or Pujara sir can't bat like me.

"So, what I am trying to do are those things that have brought me here till, for example, the aggressive batting, I don't like to change that," said Shaw after West Zone's Duleep Trophy semifinal against Central Zone at Alur.

Shaw said he was looking to play as many games as possible at this stage of his career.

The 23-year-old said every run would be very important for him in his endeavour to make a comeback.

"I think whichever game for me right now is as important as anything. Even if I'm playing Duleep Trophy or my Mumbai game, I feel it's very important for me to bring out my best," said Shaw.

Ideally, Shaw would have liked to be among big runs in the Duleep Trophy semifinal but he could not convert his 25 and 26 into impactful knocks.

Shaw admitted that the conditions were a bit tough for the batters but laid out a plan to survive and make runs.

"It's not that you can always be perfect but I try to work harder after these kinds of things happen (not getting runs). T20 is a bit more slashing, but a similar mindset. Not the similar way as in T20 with me when I am playing red ball cricket as well," said Shaw.

"What I should try is to play with bowlers, distract them, and force them to give the ball that you want and not the ball