Prithvi Shaw was fast-tracked into the Indian Test side because he is of "different quality", said an elated Indian captain Virat Kohli after the 18-year-old was declared the Player of the Match in India’s biggest ever Test win by an innings and 272 runs against the West Indies in Rajkot.
Shaw, the youngest Indian to score a Test century on debut laid the platform for a mammoth first innings total of 649 with his brilliant knock of 134 in India’s first innings.
"Playing his first game, seeing him dominate - the guy (Shaw) showed he is a different quality. That's why he's been pushed to the Test team. It is exciting to see from the captain's perspective," Kohli said at the post-match presentation.
"Jaddu as well - he has got important runs for us before and we wanted him to get three figures. We believe he can turn matches for us," Kohli added.
Saurashtra all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja also had a memorable game as he scored his maiden Test ton and returned with match figures of 4 for 57 with the ball to complete the demolition of the visitors inside three days.
Kohli also credited the pace duo of Mohammad Shami and Umesh Yadav for putting the opposition under pressure.
"If you see the first innings, the way Umesh and Shami ran into bowl. Few wickets with the new ball and you can put the opposition under pressure. Shami took wickets on a pitch that was offering nothing."
Asked about the difference in conditions between Rajkot and England, where India lost the test series 1-4 last month, Kohli said the two can not be compared.
"That was a bigger challenge. We understand that with the ability we have, we will dominate in these conditions. We were very clinical," Kohli said.