Prithvi Shaw had a nightmare outing in the series opener of the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Having beaten out Shubman Gill for a spot, Shaw's slump continued as he managed only 0 and 4 runs in the Adelaide Test.
Writing ahead of the second match, ex-Australia wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist argued that Shaw's inability to stay at the crease early on put his teammates under immediate pressure. The spotlight on Shaw has led to intense technical scrutiny, with critics pointing out a glaring gap between his bat and pad that was easily exploited.
Gilchrist pointed out that the young batter often attempts high-risk shots that are ill-suited for the bouncy Australian tracks. Despite this, he recognizes Shaw's potential, noting that his current form creates a real headache for selectors preparing the lineup for the Boxing Day Test.
Like many of his Australian peers, Gilchrist was unimpressed by the sluggish pace of Cheteshwar Pujara's batting during the opening day. That said, he believed the real issue was a lack of defensive discipline in the second innings, which ultimately triggered India's downfall.
Reports suggest that Prithvi Shaw may be dropped for the second Test to make room for either KL Rahul or Shubman Gill, both of whom looked far more composed during the warm-up match before the series began.