'Even legends like Don Bradman…' Greg Chappell writes to Prithvi Shaw amidst a poor run

Down on fitness and form, the Thane-born cricket Prithwi Shaw is experiencing one of the worst lows in his professional cricketing career. Seen and adored as someone who could fill in the shoes of the great Sachin Tendulkar, Shaw has lost his legacy as a specialist batsman and has faded away from the international area due to his poor form.

Shaw has had to deal with multiple exclusions off late. Shaw was last seen in Indian colors in July 2021 and has since then been left out of the Indian squad. Moreover, the 24-year-old has also been axed from his local Ranji team Mumbai along fitness and disciplinary lines.    

Greg Chappell offers some words of encouragement to the youngster 

In the face of acute adversary, former Australia player and coach Greg Chappell comes out in support of the talented youngster. In an open letter, Chappell advised Shaw to keep his spirits high in these testing times. 

Furthermore, Chappell stressed on the positive aspect of getting dropped. The Aussie legend went on to quote examples of himself and Don Bradman and how they were dropped in multiple phases of their career which helped them come back stronger.

"Hi Prithvi, I understand you’re facing a challenging time right now, being out of the Mumbai team. It’s natural to feel frustrated and perhaps a bit uncertain, but I want you to know that these moments are often the turning points for athletes, helping to shape both their careers and their character. Remember, setbacks are a part of every great athlete’s story. Even legends like Don Bradman experienced being dropped and having to fight their way back. What made them great was not avoiding challenges, but how they responded to them."

Chappell's own perspective on Shaw

Chappell has been observing Shaw since his U-19 playing days. Under Shaw's leadership, India went on to win the 2018 U-19 World Cup and on the back of some impressive performances in that tournament, Shaw was selected to make his Test debut against West Indies that year. Chappell urges the youngster to delve deep into self-introspection and not try to back away from facing challenges. The Aussie legend himself faced numerous setbacks in his playing days but learned to take corrective measures to rectify the shortcomings. He expects Shaw to review every aspect of his game and work on his attitude and resilience. 

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