‘Exciting opportunity’ for Prithvi Shaw & Co. – Virat Kohli

Shaw, the prolific run-scorer in Indian domestic cricket, was flown in to England for the last two Tests of their recent series but didn’t get a look-in, even though Vihari made his debut in the final fixture at The Oval.

Vihari did well when he got the chance – he scored 56 in his first innings, and followed it up with returns of 3/37 in the England second innings, even going into the record books as the bowler to get Alastair Cook’s wicket in the legendary English batsman’s last international innings.

India newbies in first-class cricket

Agarwal is the third young batsman to get a Test-team call-up, but like Vihari, he doesn’t figure in the 12 for the first of two Tests against the Windies.

But Shaw will most likely walk out with KL Rahul to open the batting for India, getting a chance to kickstart what most observers have predicted will be a glittering career at the highest level.

Shaw, among other achievements, led India to the title at the ICC Under 19 World Cup 2018 in New Zealand earlier this year, and has stacked up impressive numbers in first-class cricket in what has been a very short career so far.

“With a couple of new guys coming in at the top of the order, they have the opportunity to show the skill sets they’ve got and why the selectors have backed them,” said Virat Kohli, the India captain, on the eve of the Test.

Kohli is especially impressed with the three young batsmen – as well as Rishabh Pant, who debuted in England and scored a solid century in the final Test – giving equal importance to short and long-form cricket.

“Everyone wants to play for the country and it’s good to see all these guys are not just performing in the IPL [Indian Premier League] but they are taking domestic cricket very seriously,” said Kohli. “Someone like Vihari or Prithvi or Mayank, they have been brought in because of what they have done in the domestic circuit, consistently.

“So it’s an exciting opportunity for them, something they should look at as an opportunity and not think of pressure, because they’re very young, and it’s a great chance for them to cement their place and play for a long time.”

With the three batsmen – Shaw is 18, Vihari 24 and Agarwal 27 – having quite a few years left in them, Kohli expects them to shoulder a lot of responsibility in the coming years.

“It’s heartening to see, especially in four-day cricket, so many guys scoring heaps of runs and continuously doing that, apart from also playing IPL. I think it’s a very healthy sign and something that will always keep Indian cricket in a good space,” said Kohli.

“These guys will definitely take the responsibility tomorrow to take Indian cricket forward and that’s something you always want to see, that youngsters with passion and hunger should come in, and the ones that have come in have definitely have that in abundance.”