There's a different kind of enjoyment playing under Rahul sir: Shaw

Prithvi Shaw is back in the Indian team and is looking forward to playing under Rahul Dravid once again. The latter was the head coach when India won the 2018 Under-19 World Cup under the leadership of Shaw. Indian head coach Ravi Shastri is currently in England and Dravid has been appointed as the coach of the side for the Sri Lanka tour. Shikhar Dhawan and Co. are scheduled to play three ODIs, starting July 13, and as many T20Is against Sri Lanka.

"There is a different kind of mazaa (enjoyment) playing under Rahul sir. He was our India under-19 coach. The way he speaks, the way he shares his coaching experience, is just amazing. Whenever he talks about the game, it shows how much experience he brings to the table. He knows everything about cricket. The way he speaks on conditions and how to use them, is just out of this world," Shaw told the Indian Express.

"When I got banned for doping, he called and said, 'This is part of life. It’s ok. It wasn’t my fault and I will come back stronger.' It felt really nice that he talked to me even during my bad phase. As Rahul sir is there, one will expect discipline in the dressing room. I’m looking ahead to the practice sessions with Rahul sir because I love to speak to him for hours.

"This tour, I just have to grab the opportunity. I was desperate to get back in the Indian team. I have always kept the team above me. Be it India, Ranji Trophy team, club or my school team. I want to give my best."

Following the Under-19 World Cup, Shaw started his international career on an astonishing note. He made his Test debut in the same year and whacked scores of 134, 70 and 33* in his first three innings and forced everyone to sit up and take notice. 

Everything was going right for Shaw, but then he suffered an ankle injury during the tour of Australia and things started going downhill for the young opener. He struggled with his batting a bit and was even banned for eight months for a doping violation during the 2018-19 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Shaw was given a chance to redeem himself when India once again toured Australia in 2020-21. He played the first Test in Adelaide but could only score four runs in two innings. India made a stunning comeback in the series after the first game but Shaw didn't feature in those three encounters. He was then dropped for the home series against England, but since then he has been in amazing form.

He worked on his batting technique and hammered 827 runs in eight innings in the 2020–21 Vijay Hazare Trophy and played a massive role in helping Mumbai win the title. He slammed four centuries in the tournament, including a double hundred. He was also having a solid IPL 2021 before it was suspended. Playing for Delhi Capitals, Shaw hit 308 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of 166.48.

"It felt nice. I was scoring runs and somewhere there was a feeling that I should get a call again, because of the way I was batting and runs were behind me. (During IPL), everyone knew that I had worked hard on my batting and there is some change in my technique too. 

"During the Australia tour, there was lot of talk about my technique. There was talk about my fitness. This time, everyone felt and saw that I have worked hard. I was just eager to make my comeback. I don’t bother what others feel but I felt I needed to improve on a daily basis."