‘This Is What I Live for, My Teammates’ Applause’: Prithvi Shaw

Prithvi Shaw posts an emotional message for his teammates after scoring a century on his India debut.

18-year-old Prithvi Shaw scored a century on his debut for India.

(Photo: AP)

It was almost written in the stars.

Ever since Prithvi Shaw hit the headlines in 2013 by scoring 546 runs in a school cricket match, he was expected to make it big. Even though he was just 14 back then.

Four years later, he made his Ranji Trophy debut and marked the occasion with a century. He then played his first Duleep Trophy match in September 2017, also scoring a century in his debut game.

On Friday in Rajkot, Shaw, now 18, was handed his debut India cap by captain Virat Kohli and sent out to open the innings with KL Rahul. While his partner got out for a duck, Shaw went onto score a century, becoming the second-youngest Indian – after Sachin Tendulkar – to score a Test century for India.

India went on to amass a massive 649 runs in the first innings before Virat Kohli declared on Day 2.

At stumps, India held a 555-run lead over West Indies who had lost 6 wickets already.

In the evening, the young opener took to social media to post an emotional message dedicated to his new team-mates.

“I am a member of a team and I rely on the team. I defer to it and I sacrifice for it because the team, not the individual, is the ultimate champion. THIS IS WHAT I LIVE & PLAY FOR... MY Teammate’s APPLAUSE. And Thank you each and everyone for your love for your support and blessings and for your lovely messages,” wrote Pritvi on an Instagram post.