Delhi, December 4, 2024 (Punjab Khabarnama Bureau)- The under-fire Prithvi Shaw needs every bit of advice possible after going unsold at the IPL 2025 mega auction. The 25-year-old was ignored by all ten franchises when his name came up during the two-day event in Jeddah last week, failing to find a taker even in the accelerated process. Shaw has been in the news for reports of indiscipline, which led to his ouster from Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy squad last month and his struggle for form, placing him in hot waters. With runs hard to come by – he has scored two ducks in five innings of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy – and his fitness all over the place, the road ahead looks dark for Shaw, but an important piece of advice from Sachin Tendulkar, directed at all the young Indian cricketers, could serve as a wake-up call for him.
On Tuesday, Tendulkar inaugurated a memorial for his former coach, Ramakant Achrekar, where he shared a lesson in discipline with the nation’s youth, urging them to be more respectful towards their kits. Calling it one of Archrekar’s most valuable lessons, Tendulkar highlighted the importance of players being respectful towards their cricket equipment.
“Sir also taught us to respect our kits. Since retiring, I’ve been telling this to many players, and I’ve noticed this among several of them. They walk back inside (after being dismissed), throw the bat, and do other things. It’s because of this bat that you’re sitting in the dressing room today. So please never throw it,” Tendulkar said.
“I see many young cricketers here. Please remember, never throw your kit, whether it’s the bat, gloves, or anything else. Always respect it. There is a proper place to keep them, and that’s where they should stay. Don’t take out your frustration from failure on your kit. This was the training Sir gave us since we were kids, and all we can do is pass on his message to the next generation. Whether I can do it as well as he did, I don’t know. None of us can reach his level.”
As Tendulkar mentioned, discipline starts with the basics, and Shaw could greatly benefit from this mindset. It’s not as if Tendulkar hasn’t reached out to Shaw about his issues. In fact, when the BCCI suspended Shaw for using a banned substance in early 2020, Tendulkar made an effort to guide him back on track. However, it seems his advice went unheeded, as Shaw has shown little improvement in both his discipline and his game, even after four years.
Summary: Sachin Tendulkar delivered a hard-hitting message to Prithvi Shaw, urging him to channel his frustration from failures into improving his game and focusing on consistent performances.