"Prithvi Shaw shouldn't be an outlier" - Ricky Ponting on DC opener's regular benching during IPL 2024
Australian legend Ricky Ponting feels opening batter Prithvi Shaw should never be an outlier on any side given his incredible skillset. Ponting was the Delhi Capitals (DC) head coach from 2018 to 2024 before recently parting ways with the franchise.
Meanwhile, Shaw has been part of the DC setup since 2018 but his playing time has reduced drastically over the past couple of years.
When asked about the youngster's regular benching during IPL 2024 in an interview with Cricbuzz, Ponting responded:
"Prithvi Shaw shouldn't be an outlier. He should be someone that's in every team; the first pick in most teams with the skill that he's got. He's had a chance to represent India as a youngster, making a hundred on his Test debut. And as you say, halfway through this year, we couldn't find a slot for him in our DC team. So that's disappointing for me as a coach not to be able to make certain players better and get the best out of them."
He added:
"But sometimes there's only so much you can give and so many times you can try. When you feel like you're not making players better and they're not doing what you need for the team, then you've got to look for other players that can do it for you. So that then comes back to the player."
The 24-year-old played only eight games this season, averaging a disappointing 24.75 at a strike rate of 163.64.
Shaw also was in and out of the DC playing 11 in 2023, playing only eight outings with a dismal average of 13.25.
"Hopefully one day the penny really drops for him" - Ricky Ponting
![Credit: Getty] Shaw has endured a torrid last few IPL seasons.](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/07/efc1c-17220042712911-1920.jpg?w=500)
Ricky Ponting remained hopeful that Prithvi Shaw could still work out how to get himself to be at his best given his young age.
The talented right-hander played briefly across formats for India between 2018 and 2021 before being left out due to poor form. Shaw has played five Tests, six ODIs, and a T20I, scoring a century on Test debut against the West Indies.
"With him in particular I've had a lot of chats with him, a lot of conversations to try and make him a better cricketer. I mean, he's still a young man. And he's still a very talented young player. And hopefully one day the penny really drops for him and he works out what he needs to do to be the best cricketer that he can be," said Ponting.
Shaw has averaged under 30 in all but one of his seven seasons with DC, including the last three IPLs.
His overall IPL average has dwindled to 23.95 at a strike rate of 147.47 in 79 outings.