Prithvi Shaw says his remarkable return to form after the nightmares of last year is all down to hard work and a slight technical alteration.
The opening batsman had a woeful run in the IPL in UAE last season, resulting in him being dropped from the Delhi Capitals side midway through the campaign.
Despite his struggles, he was handed a place at the top of the order for the India team in their Test series in Australia.
That went even worse, though. He scored a duck and four in the first Test in Adelaide, was promptly dropped, then had to watch on as his teammates completed an extraordinary comeback win in the series without him.
His response to those troubles has been highly impressive. On returning home, he scored a record number of runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, becoming the first player to break the 800-run mark in the history of Indian domestic cricket’s leading one-day competition.
After leading Mumbai to that title, he has continued his purple patch in the new IPL campaign with Delhi, scoring 72 on the opening day against Chennai Super Kings.
And he shared in a quick-fire opening stand worth 59 with Shikhar Dhawan to set the Capitals on their way to victory against Punjab Kings on Sunday night.
“After that series in Australia, after getting dropped following the first game, I start worrying about my technique,” Shaw said.
“I was thinking, ‘What is happening? Why am I getting bowled the whole time?’ Everyone could see that happening with me all the time.
“Even if it was a minor mistake, I wanted to minimise that. I have worked hard on my initial movements, especially getting more stable and ready before the bowler has bowled.
“I came back from Australia, did work with Prashant Shetty-sir, my coach, before going to Vijay Hazare Trophy.
“It worked quite well, even though I didn’t do any different in that tournament, I just batted my natural game.
“There was a small technical [change] that I had to make, and I think it is going well.”
Once Shaw was dismissed against Punjab, Dhawan took it upon himself to lead the pursuit of 196 to win at the Wankhede Stadium. He made 96 as Delhi eased to victory with 10 balls to spare.
“We wanted a good partnership, and the first six overs were very crucial in this game, chasing [196] which is not easy," Shaw said.
“[Dhawan] batted so well, and we were just discussing waiting for the loose balls and converting them into boundaries and sixes.”
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
more from Janine di Giovanni
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Look north
BBC business reporters, like a new raft of government officials, are being removed from the national and international hub of London and surely the quality of their work must suffer.
RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile
Started: 2016
Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
Based: Ramallah, Palestine
Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
RESULT
Huddersfield Town 1 Manchester City 2
Huddersfield: Otamendi (45' 1 og), van La Parra (red card 90' 6)
Man City: Agüero (47' pen), Sterling (84')
Man of the match: Christopher Schindler (Huddersfield Town)
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
TECH%20SPECS%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2014%20PLUS
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 390bhp
Torque: 400Nm
Price: Dh340,000 ($92,579
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
