Debutant Shaw credits Kohli and Shastri for easing the nerves

Shaw has been knocking on the doors with stellar performances in the domestic circuit as well as for India A. Hundreds against West Indies A in the tri-series in England earned him his maiden India call-up for the last two matches against England, replacing an out of form Murali Vijay.

The nerves of playing his first Test match for India eased out after captain Virat Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri asked him to treat it like a Ranji Trophy game, revealed 18-year-old Prithvi Shaw.  

Shaw is all set to open the batting after India for the first time named a shortlisted 12-man squad on the eve of the first Test match against West Indies. His biggest competitor – Mayank Agarwal – did not find a place in the squad.

"I am feeling very good, a bit nervous, but when I came to the dressing room everyone like...over here there is no senior and junior Virat bhai and Ravi sir told me, and it felt really nice.

"I was very comfortable and everyone was very happy to see me in the dressing room. We just finished our first practice session which was very good. I really enjoyed my first day and it's been going great,” Shaw told BCCI.tv

Shaw has been knocking on the doors with stellar performances in the domestic circuit as well as for India A. Hundreds against West Indies A in the tri-series in England earned him his maiden India call-up for the last two matches against England, replacing an out of form Murali Vijay. Shaw did not get a game in England but he became an inevitable choice to partner Rahul after both Dhawan and Vijay were ignored for the two-Test series against West Indies.

Shaw had a nice net session where captain Kohli helped him out to ease the tension. "He (Virat) helped me out and made me feel comfortable. I have no plan (in nets) I just went with a blank mind. I don't like to get out when I am batting in the nets. I had a throwdown session with Sanjay Bangar, everything was good in practice.

Shaw revealed that head coach Ravi Shastri advised him to approach the Test match like a Ranji Trophy game. "Ravi sir told me to enjoy the game, he said 'play the way you play in Ranji trophy and the way you have been playing all these years'. Getting the Test cap is a great feeling."