IND VS ENG: Prithvi Shaw Shines as India Clinch Exciting Victory in Rajkot Test; A Must-Watch Match Recap
"Prithvi Shaw Shines as India Clinch Exciting Rajkot Test Win: Recap"
IND VS ENG: Only two Test matches have been held at the Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) Stadium so far. India will take on England in the third Test starting Thursday, marking the continuation of their cricketing rivalry. The inaugural Test, also featuring India and England, concluded in a draw back in November 2016. Subsequently, in the stadium's second Test match, India secured their most significant Test victory ever against the West Indies in October 2018.
The match left a lasting impression on Indian fans, particularly due to Prithvi Shaw's sensational international debut. Opening alongside KL Rahul as India took to bat first, Shaw showcased his immense talent by smashing an impressive 134 runs off just 154 balls. His debut century made him the youngest Indian Test centurion on debut and the second youngest Test centurion for the team after the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. Despite Rahul's early dismissal for a duck, Shaw formed a formidable partnership of 206 runs for the second wicket with Cheteshwar Pujara, during which he contributed 113 runs off 124 balls. The partnership came to an end when Pujara was dismissed by Devendra Bishoo on 86. Shaw's innings ended shortly after, but India continued to dominate against the West Indies, further amplifying their lead.
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Captain Virat Kohli showcased his batting prowess by scoring a remarkable 139 runs, first forming a solid 105-run partnership with Ajinkya Rahane. Kohli then displayed his aggressive intent by forging a blistering 133-run stand with Rishabh Pant, with Pant shouldering most of the run-scoring responsibilities in the partnership. Kohli's innings came to an end after a 64-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja, who went on to score a century off 132 balls. Following their impressive batting display, India declared their innings at 649/9.
The West Indies suffered heavy defeats in both innings, being dismissed for 181 and 196 runs respectively. Ravichandran Ashwin made significant contributions by claiming four wickets in just 11 overs during the first innings, while Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja picked up five and three wickets respectively in the second innings. India clinched victory by an innings and 272 runs, marking their largest-ever margin of victory against the West Indies in Test cricket. Prithvi Shaw was awarded the player of the match accolade, signaling the beginning of what was anticipated to be a promising career, given his impressive track record in Mumbai's junior circuits, the Mumbai first-class team, and his role in leading India to victory in the U19 World Cup. However, despite such a strong start, Shaw has only featured in four more Test matches since then, with his last appearance dating back to December 2020. Although he managed to score two more half-centuries in the eight innings following his debut, a return to Test cricket or the Indian team in any format appears distant for the 24-year-old at present.