Cricket

‘Focus on cricket, not parties’: Wasim Akram’s crucial advice to Prithvi Shaw amid DC opener’s poor form in IPL 2024

May 10, 2024

The journey of Delhi Capitals (DC) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 has been quite diverse, with a balance of victories and defeats, yet they persist in the pursuit of playoff contention. With six wins and six losses in their 12 matches thus far, they stand at a crucial juncture with upcoming fixtures against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), both formidable contenders for playoff berths. Despite witnessing an upturn in performance during the latter part of the season, one notable aspect remained the inconsistent form of their opener, Prithvi Shaw.

Wasim Akram’s bold statement

Former Pakistani fast bowler Wasim Akram commented on Shaw’s challenges in the current season. Akram acknowledged Shaw’s skills but offered guidance to the young Indian player. Shaw has faced difficulties securing a spot in the national team due to his fluctuating performances and off-field matters.

“I haven’t watched him closely this year, but he has to go back to basics, play first-class cricket and score big. Focus on cricket, not parties,” Akram said on Sportskeeda.

“He has still got plenty of cricket in him, just go back and play first-class cricket. Get a lot of centuries and make a comeback. That’s the only way. There’s no shortcut. He has got time on his hands, and that’s good for him,” he added.

Also READ: IPL 2024: Playoffs qualification scenario for DC after their hard-fought victory over RR

Poor form continues for Prithvi Shaw

Last season, Shaw’s performance left much to be desired, barely scraping past the 100-run milestone in eight outings. Despite showing signs of improvement this year, he is still searching for his peak form. Across 8 matches, he has amassed 198 runs at a commendable strike rate of 163.64. His absence from the lineup during the DC’s recent victory over the Rajasthan Royals (RR) hints at the emergence of Jake Fraser-McGurk and Abhishek Porel, who delivered stellar performances in the opening positions.