New Delhi: Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting brought in Ajinkya Rahane to replace out-of-form Prithvi Shaw in the playing XI against Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday. Shaw was dismissed twice for a duck while opening the innings earlier.
Ponting’s decision was greeted by former India opener Virender Sehwag, who explained why it was a good move from Ponting to give Shaw a break. The former opener recollected a personal anecdote from his career. “Ricky Ponting will continue to back Prithvi Shaw, but he has been in poor form in the past few games and hence he has been given a break because of the form,” Sehwag told Cricbuzz.
“Sometimes, a batsman develops a mindset that no matter what I am doing it is not working in my favour. So, at the time, you either take a break yourself, or someone gives you a break, it works best for everyone,” Sehwag explained.
“I share my own story when back in 2006, I was not able to score any runs. But still Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly kept me in the playing XI. I kept telling them that I am not being able to perform, I am not being able to score runs.
“So, give me a break. Instead of giving me a break, in one series, I was made the captain,” the swashbuckling batsman recalled.
“The mental phase and thinking of a player is very important. If you yourself are confused, and you are not being able to score runs, and you don’t have any other way to get runs.
“So, at this time it is better to take a break from cricket, to think how you can pursue your batting, and how you make your plans against other teams. So the break always work. So, it is a good decision made by Ricky Ponting to give Shaw a break,” Sehwag said.
