‘I’ve learned not to think ahead so much’: Prithvi Shaw prefers to stay in the present

KOLKATA: Prithvi Shaw showed flashes of his best year as he led Maharashtra to a 10-wicket win against Bengal in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group ‘C’ match at the Eden Gardens on Thursday. The opener scored his second half-century of this Ranji season to remain unbeaten on 53 balls off 50 balls while hitting three fours and four sixes during his innings.However, Shaw preferred not to look too far ahead, instead staying in the present. “I’ve learned from experience that I shouldn’t think so far ahead,” he said.“Like right now I’m giving an interview. After this I’ll go to the room and then I’ll think about what to do. I don’t think about more than that. Just win games. Train well. Eat well,” he said, laying out his schedule.The 26-year-old last played for India five years ago and would definitely like to return to the national team. “There’s always that thought in the back of my mind. But now I’m not thinking ahead as much,” he explained.His immediate challenge is to put together a consistent score in domestic cricket.The explosive opener hit two half-centuries in seven innings this Ranji season, with a top score of 70 against Delhi in Maharashtra’s opening match. Since then he has scored 7, 21, 0, 17 and 12.“Some innings go bad and some innings go well. There is no problem with the start. Big runs are just a matter of one innings,” he felt.Shaw is enjoying leading Maharashtra after moving from Mumbai last season.“I feel that Mumbai and Pune are not too far apart. There is a difference of 1.5 to 2 hours and I know a lot of players. Ritu (Gaikwad), Ankit (Bawne) here. So I never felt like I got far from home. I am very comfortable and I have enjoyed it a lot,” he said.The opener enjoyed a confrontation with veteran pacer Mohammed Shami. “Shami Bhai is bowling like before. No change. He is bowling fast. It was about bowling Shami Bhai well because I feel he is the main player for such wickets,” he said.