The phone just hasn’t stopped ringing for the Shaws. Between congratulatory calls and offers from corporates to sponsor sports gear and what not, Prithvi Shaw, all of 14, has a game to focus on. His father has stood doggedly by his side — shielding him from distractions, giving feedback on technique and channelling every iota of energy towards honing his fledgling career. In a week that saw a cricketing legend call it quits, a new boy wonder hit the headlines.
Is Prithvi the next Sachin? That’s been the euphoria surrounding Shaw’s world record-breaking 546 runs in 330 balls and starring in a massive 749-run season opener win for his school Rizvi Springfield, Bandra, in the Harris Shield inter-school tournament in Mumbai. Mediapersons have been closely following young Shaw, but the youngster with a genial smile is unaffected.
He is just happy to take a break from the game and enjoy a Chinese meal with his father, while the rest of the world fusses over his prodigious talent. “Every time I score a century, my father takes me for a Chinese meal. It has become a tradition now and that’s how we celebrate my achievements,” says Prithvi, excited to talk about the family ritual instead of cricket.
Prithvi lost his mother when he was just four and since then his world has revolved around his father and cricket. It’s been the same for his dad, Pankaj. After his record-breaking knock, the 14-year-old humbly said, “I dedicate this knock to my father who has sacrificed a lot for me.”
Even as the world focuses on Prithvi’s talent, the road to adulation has been a journey that demanded much from both father and son. Prithvi, at a very young age, impressed onlookers and his father, following expert advice, decided to enroll him at Rizvi Springfield, which has been dominating inter-school competitions. Pankaj used to run a small garment business but gave it up, as he wanted to give Prithvi more time.
The father-son duo would get up at 4.30am, have a quick breakfast, board the 6am train from Virar to Bandra for practice at MIG Cricket Club or Rizvi Grounds. Pankaj travelled with him and sat outside his practice sessions. He has been present at every big match and was there when he scored the 546 runs.
Pankaj says it’s just the start of a long journey for his son. “He has shown that he is talented. A lot will depend on how he conducts himself as a batsman and as a person. I want him to be a khadoos batsman, who values his wicket and won’t throw it away easily,” he says. Ask him about the hardships he’s had to endure while raising his son and letting him live his dream, and Pankaj only responds with a shrug, “He has worked much harder. I only supported him because I believe in him. He may be 14 but he’s much wiser than you’d imagine.” In 2010, Prithvi caught the eye of former India left-arm spinner Nilesh Kulkarni, whose sports management company signed him up for an annual stipend of Rs 3 lakh. His education is being taken care of by his school that also offered him a Rs 1 lakh prize after the latest mammoth knock.
Says Raju Pathak, Prithvi’s coach, “Prithvi likes to attack. He never looks at the scoreboard. Even if his side has lost early wickets, he will play his natural game. I only tell him to stay on the wicket for as long as possible as he is a gifted batsman. He will never take long to score runs.” Prithvi’s immense batting talent even impressed former county cricketer Julian Wood. After he scored 73 against his academy side, Wood offered Prithvi a stint at his English academy. In 2012, he spent three months in Manchester.
Much like his father, coach Pathak too has encouraged Prithvi to just be true to his natural ability. “He is a quick learner. I can tell him to be patient with his batting but I don’t want to do that. I don’t want to tweak his style.”
But being a prodigy can weigh heavy on a young mind; conversations always revolve around cricket, friends start looking at you as a mini celebrity and it becomes difficult to avoid that growing chip on one’s shoulder. But there is something about Prithvi’s school, Rizvi Springfield, Pathak and Mumbai maidans that keep on producing run-machines. Prithvi’s schoolmate Sarafraz Khan held the record after he scored 439 in 2009, which was later broken by Armaan Jaffer in Giles Shield (2010) with a score of 498. Prithvi has gone miles ahead. Before you even suggest the existence of healthy rivalry, this new sensation says, “We play for the same team and are very good friends. We enjoy each other’s successes like they’re our own.”
Also, for a boy of tall records, Prithvi is at the lower end of the average height range, but that hardly affects the cricketer. Like his idol Sachin Tendulkar, he wants to dismantle all kinds of bowling attacks with his talent. “My height does not matter. I will continue to bat my way. Just like Sachin Tendulkar did,” he says.
Prithvi has now been named the captain of the Mumbai U-16 team in the Vijay Merchant Trophy. The record may have got him a lot of attention today but Prithvi has his eyes set on the future.
“To captain a Mumbai side is a big responsibility. Records are fun, but there are games to be played too,” Prithvi concludes. Wise beyond his age, no doubt!
With inputs from Moulin Parekh
