Comparisons with Sachin Tendulkar and counselling from Ricky Ponting have motivated and toughened up the supremely talented Prithvi Shaw for anything top-flight cricket could possibly throw.
Having reminded Mark Waugh of Tendulkar's technical proficiency, Shaw on Tuesday said he would try to live up to the Australian batting great's words.
Mumbai boy Shaw, who led India to the Under-19 World Cup triumph in New Zealand, has made a mark while turning out for Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League.
"Obviously it feels good. I can't compare myself to Tendulkar, because he has already played and done with his 25 years of international career and scored 100 hundreds. So, it's not easy. I have not even stepped in international cricket. So, it's obviously a big thing for me. I hope to make his words come true and keep scoring runs," Shaw said.
Waugh had recently said, "His grip, his stance, he stays very still at the crease and plays all his shots around the wicket. He plays the ball quite late and is quite punchy in his stroke play and has an excellent base to play any shot from any bowler. He's just so much like Sachin Tendulkar," said Waugh, who played 128 Tests for Australia and scored 8,029 runs.
Shaw, who tallied 245 runs in nine matches in the IPL, heaped praise on the legendary Ponting, his coach at Delhi Daredevils.
"I really liked him. He was really ruling all of us, not in a literal sense, but in a good way. The advice that he gave us was to just enjoy your game. When I made my IPL debut, I was nervous because there were people around me, and the cameras focused on me.
"This wasn't my first time (playing in a match which was being telecast) but I was feeling the pressure. However, after hearing Ponting's positive words, I did well and enjoyed myself," Shaw said
"I think I have faced each and every difficult bowler over there (in the IPL). From now on it's no longer a worry. All those thoughts and processes are gone. The thought that I am going to face such and such bowler won't come to my mind.
"All the positive things Ponting , Gauti bhai (Gautam Gambhir) and everyone has said will remain with me," the rookie batsman said in Mumbai.
Playing in the IPL after the Under-19 World Cup, though, was not an easy task for the Mumbai youngster.
"It's totally different. When you play for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy, you face the same bowler next year. But when you play in IPL, you face bowlers of different calibre.
"You face the likes of Mitchell Johnson, you see an international batsman like AB de Villiers. So, it was the best opportunity that I could have thought of. It was the best stage for everyone. To play in the IPL immediately after the U-19 World Cup wasn't easy for us."
Shaw, who has been picked in the India 'A' side for an England tour, said previous trips to the country will help him in his preparation.
"This will be the sixth or seventh time I am going to England. I have experience over there. How the wickets behave, how the conditions will be. So, I am ready for it to be honest. Obviously when we go there, the conditions are going to be different. It's not going to be easy.
"Even if I have played there for three-four years, it's going to be difficult now as well. But a little bit of adjustment is needed. The IPL is a different ball game. Going there and playing in England against England is a different thing. Of course, I need to plan for it."
