The first Test between India and Windies marked a special occasion for Prithvi Shaw. The 19-year-old made his Test debut and became the 293rd player to represent India in Test cricket. Since the beginning of the Test, he was in the headlines. The Indian skipper Virat Kohli handed him the Test cap before the game and the debutant took a leaf out of his captain’s book.
Prithvi Shaw opened the innings alongside KL Rahul. He wasn’t overawed by the highest level of cricket and bravely took the strike off the first ball. He looked fluent from ball one and didn’t seem like the young boy was playing his first game for the country. His natural style is to attack and the good thing was that he didn’t curb his instincts.
Prithvi Shaw in full flow
The drives, cuts were in full flow and the technique reminded the fans of the great Sachin Tendulkar who also made the debut at a very young age. Prithvi punished the pacers and took on the spinners as well. The right-hander reached his half-century off 56 balls and became the youngest Indian debutant to reach the landmark.
He was in no mood to settle for a fifty and had his eyes firmly set for 3 figures. Batting at a fair click, he kept on inching towards the century. Cheteshwar Pujara’s calming influence was with him all along and the duo ran away with the game from the opposition.
Shaw was unflustered even in the 90s. It didn’t take him long to cross the hurdle and the youngster got there in a hurry. He brought up his hundred off just 99 balls and the teammates lifted in joy. A fluent cover drive off Keemo Paul took him past the landmark and the batsman was thrilled to the rafters.
It was a dream come true moment for Shaw to see the Indians giving him a standing ovation just after the first time he batted for his nation. After scoring a century on Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy debuts, Shaw repeated the feat in his Indian debut.
Twitter saluted the debut century of Prithvi Shaw
Lovely to see such an attacking knock in your first innings, @prithvishaw! Continue batting fearlessly. #INDvWI pic.twitter.com/IIM2IifRAd
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) October 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/ImRo45/status/1047774023973855233
Hundred on Ranji debut, hundred on Duleep debut, hundred on Test debut. Know another student from that school…..
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 4, 2018
A century on Test debut at such a young age. Take a bow @PrithviShaw. The comparisons with @sachin_rt are rising but let the kid build his own aura.#PrithviShaw #INDvWI
— Shubham Khare (@shubhamkhare71) October 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/sanjaymanjrekar/status/1047749459164053505
https://twitter.com/MichaelVaughan/status/1047747617273380864
https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1047747427787141120
This boy is class and a lambi race ka ghoda- Prithvi Shaw. So good to watch #IndvWI
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) October 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/harbhajan_singh/status/1047747569311526912
Prithvi Shaw only 17,not a bad start to his career with a run a ball 100 on debut! Was impressive in the U19 WC & did well for Delhi Daredevils – watch out!
— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) October 4, 2018
Fantastic achievement by young #Prithvishaw Hundred on Debut and going strong,showing good temperament and positive approach #INDvsWI
— zaheer khan (@ImZaheer) October 4, 2018
Century in tests, Ranji, Duleep, all on debut, all before 19th birthday! @PrithviShaw take a bow! #PrithviShaw #INDvWI
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) October 4, 2018
A century on Test Debut. A century of sheer dominance. As if he was playing his 100th Test and not first….well done, young man. Many more to come #PrithviShaw #IndvWI
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/ImRahulSharma3/status/1047757099516788741
As rupee, oil prices, stock prices and economy cause depression the only thing uplifting the mood today is young ( 18 year old) Prithvi Shaw century in his first test against West Indies. Century on debut is always to be celebrated.
— M K Venu (@mkvenu1) October 4, 2018
Chuffed to see this brilliant hundred on debut by Prithvi Shaw. Wish he gets many more! #IndiaVsWestIndies
— Anirudh Chaudhry (@AnirudhChaudhry) October 4, 2018
Congratulations @PrithviShaw on scoring a century off 99 balls on your Test debut, on being the second youngest to debut for #India after Sachin Tendulkar @sachin_rt .You have miles to go. Carry on. #INDvWI #PrithviShaw @BCCI
— Rajat Sharma (@RajatSharmaLive) October 4, 2018
Prithvi Shaw facts today
– Youngest Indian to score 100 on Test debut
– 3rd fastest 100 on debut in Test history
– Second youngest Indian to open on Test debut
– 15th Indian to score 100 on Test debut#WonderKid #IndvWI
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) October 4, 2018
Wonderful century on debut for Prithvi Shaw. Great to see a 18 year old go out and play his natural game. Got a bright future. #IndvWI pic.twitter.com/e86XPsg6ho
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) October 4, 2018
Is ladke mein kuch toh bahut khaas hai. Looked that he belongs here from the very first ball he faced. A sign of things to come, well played Prithvi Shaw #IndvWI
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) October 4, 2018
Like the look of Prithvi Shaw. It’s not exactly baptism with fire….haven’t been asked tough questions yet but the kid has a spunk. Reminds us of Sehwag. Free flowing. #IndvWI #TestAsliFansKa
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 4, 2018
Prithvi Shaw, take a bow.
But I must say, I wish everyone was as lucky as Indian batsmen. Every time we come back after humiliation in Aus, Eng, SA, NZ, the BCCI arranges a test series with West Indies/Sri Lanka on Indian roads. #INDvsWI
— Anuj Singhal अनुज सिंघल (@_anujsinghal) October 4, 2018
It’s been the Shaw show. Congratulations Prithvi Shaw, abhi toh bas shuruaat hai , ladke mein bahut dum hai #IndvWI pic.twitter.com/obEcSylvCV
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1047746776654995456
First ball of Test cricket Prithvi Shaw plays the most important shot in Test cricket. The leave alone.#INDvWI
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) October 4, 2018
Prithvi Shaw's mini timeline #INDvWI
14 yrs – Scores 546 for school
17 – Makes FC debut
17 – Century in Ranji & Duleep Trophy
18 – Leads India U19 to WC title
18 – Has 5 FC 100s, plays IPL
18 years, 329 days – Set to play his maiden Test— Moulin (@Moulinparikh) October 3, 2018
Incredible! A century on Test debut for 18-year-old Prithvi Shaw! It comes off just 99 balls: https://t.co/Bm1z10uErS #INDvWI pic.twitter.com/0SvYkHoqYl
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 4, 2018
Centuries on first-class debut and also on Test debut:
GR Viswanath
DM Wellham
PRITHVI SHAW(Sehwag scored century on Test debut and century in his maiden FC innings but in his second match)#IndvWI
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) October 4, 2018
Players to score a century each on Ranji Trophy and Test debut:
Prithvi Shaw and Gundappa Viswanath
Players to score a century each on Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy and Test debut:
Prithvi Shaw#INDvWI
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) October 4, 2018
Since 1971, every time a short compact Bombay batsman has made his test debut, it's probably a good idea to take notice.
— Joy Bhattacharjya (@joybhattacharj) October 4, 2018
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