India's 19-year-old Prithvi Shaw started his Australia tour with a bang. On day two of the warm-up match between India and Cricket Australia XI, India's young batting star scored a brilliant 69-ball 66.
While Captain Virat Kohli played a brilliant 87-ball knock of 64, hitting seven boundaries and a six, Cheteshwar Pujara scored a patient 89-ball 54.The left-hander’s half century has now increased his chances to open for his squad instead of Rohit Sharma in the first Test.
Highlights of Prithvi Shaw's half-century...
The 19-year-old batsman, who made his Test debut a month ago, won the hearts of all the cricketing fans around the world by his batting performance in the two-match Test series against the West Indies.
Shaw, who has already made several records in Tests, was chosen the Man of the Series for his excellent batting.
India head coach Ravi Shastri even went on to call Shaw a combination of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Brian Lara.
"He is born to play cricket" Shastri said after the Windies Test series.
"He's a spectator's delight. There's a bit of Sachin (Tendulkar) there, a bit of Viru (Virendar Sehwag) in him and when he walks there's a bit of (Brian) Lara as well."
The first-day Cricket Australia XI vs India tour game was called off without a ball being bowled at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday. Continuous drizzling kept the players away as inclement weather didn't relent at all.
The top-ranked India will face Australia in the first Test of the four-match Test series, starting on December 6 in in Adelaide.