Mohammad Kaif Reveals Prithvi Shaw Strange “Ritual” During Nets In 2019 Edition. Mohammad Kaif, a former Delhi Capitals assistant coach, has spoken about a strange request he received from opening batter Prithvi Shaw during the 2019 edition of the tournament.
During his coaching tenure with the Delhi Capitals from 2019 to 2021, Mohammad Kaif spent a significant amount of time coaching young players and was instrumental in developing some of them into members of the squad. Previously, the franchise hired Kaif as an assistant coach. During the 2019 edition of the Indian T20 league, the former India batter revealed a strange request he received from swashbuckling batter Prithvi Shaw.
Shaw, according to Kaif, requested that the then-assistant coach bowl underarm to him during training sessions because he was going through a rough patch.
“I spent three years with the Delhi Capitals and got to spend a lot of time with Prithvi Shaw. He had this ritual in which I would hold a new ball with the seam and throw it underarm towards him, below his knee, before the game. He kept throwing it back at me “Sportskeeda was informed by Kaif.
“When I was drinking tea one day, a player came in and told me that Shaw was waiting for me outside. I dashed outside and inquired as to what had occurred. So he said to me, ‘Please bowl underarm to me; I’m not getting runs.’ ‘I’d like to restart this ritual.’ “He went on to say.
Shaw scored 353 runs for the Delhi Capitals in 16 matches in 2019 at an average of 22.06. During the season, the right-handed batter hit two half-centuries and scored 99 against the Kolkata Knight Riders.
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During the season, Prithvi Shaw went seven games in a row without scoring 20 points or more.
“He instructed me to bowl underarm but with a straight seam and below the knee so that the ball could meet the middle of the bat. He used to play 10-12 balls like that. He’d hit the ball back at me and get into a batting rhythm “Kaif stated
“He went in and scored runs in the next game. We looked at each other after the game and burst out laughing. We didn’t say anything to each other, just made eye contact, and I suggested that if a ritual works, don’t break it. He admitted that he had made a mistake and had become lazy, but vowed that he would not make the same mistake again. And he continued to perform the ritual after that “He continued.
The Delhi Capitals defeated the Mumbai Indians by four wickets in their IPL 2022 opener. Lalit Yadav and Axar Patel batted well for the Rishabh Pant-led side as they chased 178.
Shaw also managed to get in a good score, scoring 38 runs off four fours and two sixes. On Saturday, the Delhi Capitals will face the Gujarat Titans.
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