Delhi has had a mixed season till now in the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League and is still in the race for the playoffs. The team has six losses in 12 matches they have played till now. Now they have matches remaining against Lucknow Supergiants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, both of whom are also in contention for a playoff spot. While the team has had an improved performance in the second half of the season, one player who has remained inconsistent throughout is their star opener, India’s Prithvi Shaw.
The youngster had a poor season last year, where he could barely cross the mark of 100 runs in eight appearances. While his performance improved in 2024, he has yet to find his best form in eight matches, as he has scored 198 runs at a strike rate of 163.64. He was not a part of the starting 11 in the team victory against the Rajasthan Royals in the last match, with Jake Fraser-McGurk and Abhishek Porel giving strong performances in the opening.
Former pass bowler of Pakistan cricket team Wasim Akram talks about the struggles of Shaw in the ongoing season. Akram admired the talent of Shaw but had advised the young player of Team India, who has fallen out of contention for national team spots following inconsistent performances as well as off-field issues.
Akram said, “I have not watched him closely this year, but he has to go back to the basics, play first-class cricket, score some big runs, and focus on cricket, not parties.”
Akram further said, “He still has plenty of cricket in him. Just go back and play first-class cricket, get a lot of centuries, and make a comeback. That is the only way there is no shortcut, and he has time on his hands, and that is good for him.”
Prithvi last played for the Indian cricket team in 2021, when he was part of the team squad for the white-ball series against Sri Lanka. Akram stressed that Shaw needed to play regularly and look after himself off the field.
Wasim said, “He has to play regularly and look at himself off the field. Do as many parties as you want after you retire; no one is going to care, but now focus on cricket.”
