Was batting well but it was just matter of time as big runs weren’t coming: Prithvi Shaw

India and Mumbai opening batter Prithvi Shaw, after scoring a brilliant 379 off 383 balls in the Ranji Trophy match against Assam said that he is focusing on the process and ignoring the people who are constantly judging him on social media.

On January 11, Shaw made the second-highest Ranji Trophy score of all time going past former Mumbai batter Sanjay Manjrekar’s 377. Resuming on the overnight score of 240, he just kept going on the second day of Mumbai’s Group B match against Assam, scoring a further 139 runs off 99 balls before being dismissed.

Interestingly, Jay Shah, who is the Honorary Secretary of the BCCI tweeted to congratulate him for his extraordinary knock.

Another entry into the record books! What an extraordinary inning @PrithviShaw! Congratulations on hitting the second-highest Ranji Trophy score of all time. A talent with immense potential. Super proud! @BCCIdomestic pic.twitter.com/0MsturQSpD

— Jay Shah (@JayShah) January 11, 2023

As expected, Shaw got rewarded for his triple century and was picked in India’s T20 squad for the New Zealand series. He last played for India in July 2021, and his absence from the team – particularly in the T20 format – has been a constant source of debate, given his rare ability to provide rapid starts in the powerplay.

“People who are not with me when I am not doing well, I don’t really care about them,” Shaw told PTI after the second day’s play. “Just like to ignore them. That’s the best policy.

“You know you are doing your things right. You know you are doing your processes right, you are honest with yourself, disciplined with your career on and off the field. But sometimes people do talk differently. People who don’t even know you judge you.”

Shaw became the ninth batter to go past 350 in a Ranji inning and went past Swapnil Gugale (351*), Cheteshwar Pujara (352), VVS Laxman (353), Samit Gohel (359*), Vijay Merchant (359*), MV Sridhar (366) and Sanjay Manjrekar (377).

Unfortunately, Shaw missed his 400 and got out lbw on 379 to Riyan Parag in what turned out to be the last over before lunch.

Bhausaheb Nimbalkar’s 443 for Maharashtra against Kathiawar back in December 1948 is still the highest Ranji Trophy score and the highest first-class score by an Indian batter. Nevertheless, Shaw has now moved up to No. 2 on both those lists.

“It feels really nice. I could have made that 400. I think I was batting really well but it was just matter of time as big runs weren’t coming. I thought, I should give myself more time out there in the middle, display patience and the track needed that,” Shaw said.

“The pitch did offer seam movement at the beginning and then as the overs progressed, it started keeping low.”

With this knock, Shaw ended his poor run of form after starting the Ranji season with only one fifty in his first seven innings.

However, he said, he isn’t looking too far ahead and wants to win the Ranji Trophy title with Mumbai.

“I am not even thinking if someone is going to call me in the Indian team. I am just trying to do my things right which I can and not to think too far ahead,” Shaw said. “I am a person who loves to live one day at a time. I have to make my today right. I am playing for Mumbai and the goal is to win Ranji Trophy.

Shaw dominated all three partnerships he was involved in against Assam, scoring 75 out of a first-wicket stand of 123 with Musheer Khan, 42 out of a second-wicket stand of 74 with Armaan Jaffer, and 262 out of the 401 he put on with Mumbai captain Ajinkya Rahane for the third wicket.

“It feels really nice to bat with a player of his (Rahane’s) stature,” he said. “Someone with so much of international experience. His mere presence around this Mumbai side lifts us up. I always try and learn when an international player comes and plays with us.”

His knock helped Mumbai knock over Assam by an inning and 128 runs in a Group B affair. Batting first, Mumbai declared on 687 for 4, with captain Ajinkya Rahane also contributing with 191.

In reply, left-arm spinner Shams Mulani’s four-wicket haul restricted Assam to 370. Assam were asked to follow on and were bundled out for 189 with Shardul Thakur leading the way with a three-for. The win kept Mumbai second on the Group B points table, three points behind Saurashtra.