Rajkot: Prithvi Shaw is a ‘different quality’ player and that’s why the youngster was rushed into the Test team, gushed an elated India captain Virat Kohli after the Mumbai teenager was adjudged man of the match for his century on debut against the West Indies.
Shaw became the youngest Indian batsman, fourth overall, to score a hundred on Test debut after opening the innings for India, who thrashed the West Indies by an innings and 272 runs in the series-opener. He also credited Ravindra Jadeja as the Saurashtra all-rounder scored his maiden Test ton.
“Delighted for Prithvi and Jaddu. Playing his first game, seeing him dominate – the guy (Shaw) showed he is different quality. That’s why he’s been pushed to the Test team. It is exciting to see from the captain’s perspective,” Kohli said at the post-match presentation.
“Jaddu as well – he has got important runs for us before and we wanted him to get three figures. We believe he can turn matches for us.”
Asked about the difference in conditions between Rajkot and England, where India lost the Test series 1-4 last month, Kohli asserted that the two can’t be compared.
“That was a bigger challenge. We understand that with the ability we have, we will dominate in these conditions. We were very clinical,” Kohli said.
On the other hand, West Indies stand-in-captain Kraigg Brathwaite blamed the lack of batting partnerships cost them the match.
“India played well and showed us how to bat, especially. As a batting unit we didn’t get any partnerships put together and that cost us. I believe in our batters and will try to rectify our mistakes in the second game,” Brathwaite said.
