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India vs West Indies: Prithvi Shaw could debut in ODI series

Shaw won plaudits for his masterful century on Test debut in the first Test against West Indies in Rajkot.

Prithvi Shaw. @ AFP
Prithvi Shaw. @ AFP

Batting prodigy Prithvi Shaw might find himself making an ODI debut as soon as the third fixture in the five-match series against West Indies. The 19-year-old Shaw, who won plaudits for his masterful century on Test debut in the first Test against West Indies at Rajkot and followed it up with 70 and 33 (both innings) in the second Test, which India won to seal the two-Test series 2-0, has all the ingredients — aggressive mindset, crisp stroke play and the ability to keep the scoreboard ticking — needed for an opening batmen.

According to a report in the Indian Express on Wednesday, the selectors and the team management are thinking of rotating their important players who will be needed at the 2019 World Cup next year and in this regard, are thinking of trying out different combinations.

During the review meeting at Hyderabad before the second Test which was attended by selectors, captain Virat Kohli, coach Ravi Shastri, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane, the idea of including Shaw for the remainder of the series was discussed. With Rohit and Shikhar Dhawan set to debut in the first two ODIs for which the squads have already been announced, Shaw could open with Rohit in the other three matches.

“With an eye to the World Cup, the main focus is how to rotate players. In fact, more than rotation, it would be more about how to save our key players,” a source was quoted as saying in the report.

“That’s why you would see the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami in and out of the squad, not playing regularly. The players who are important for all formats will be adequately taken care of. Going ahead also, these things will keep happening,”

If Shaw does get a chance to make his debut in the West Indies series, and if he does find himself among runs, it would be another pleasant headache for the Indian think tank if they are thinking of including an aggressive young opener in the squad for the World Cup.

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