My focus is on scoring runs, rest depends on selectors: Shaw on India comeback

Returning to competitive cricket with a bang after serving a doping suspension, young Prithivi Shaw says he is w completely focused on letting his bat do talking to force his way back into Indian team. "w I will focus on scoring as many runs as possible and win games for team," said Shaw, who played his first game after serving a backdated eight-month suspension by BCCI for failing a dope test. In his comeback match, Shaw made a stroke-filled 39-ball 63 to help Mumbai thrash Assam by 83 runs in a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy game.

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"I will just keep scoring runs. It is all about selectors and what y think. My job is to score runs and win games for team," 20-year-old opening batsman said when asked about his return to national team. 

Shaw, who made a dream Test debut with a century and a fifty in two matches he has played so far, has or option but to pile up tons of runs to reclaim his Test spot as Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal have grabbed ir chances in his absence. Shaw was banned from all forms of cricket by BCCI for a (retrospective) period of eight months in July after failing a dope test during Mushtaq Ali Trophy in March and his ban ended on Friday.  Talking about ban period, Shaw said episode was definitely "hard and upsetting" but it is a thing of past w. 

"I had never thought that something like this would happen. I was obviously upset. For first 20-25 days after I was banned, I was t able to understand how did it happen," he said. 

"Time passed by. I went to London and chilled out re as I was t allowed to practice till September 15. After that I stabilised myself and kept myself mentally stronger by telling myself se three months would pass. But each day was hard, it was getting longer. It's all past w."   

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Prithvi Shaw credits Rahul Dravid

Shaw said that former skipper Rahul David, who is head of cricket in Bangalore's National Cricket Academy, helped him in his comeback. "re was thing in my mind. I couldn't have done anything about ban. After returning from London, Rahul (Dravid) sir called me to NCA for training. re I went through a series of fitness tests like yo-yo," he said. "Under Rahul sir a lot of focus was on fitness. I had to clear all my fitness tests. What also helped was that during nets good bowlers were available like Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvi (Bhuvaneshwar Kumar) and Varun Aaron. Besides, Rahul sir was always re for guidance and mental issues."  

He said apart from his far Pankaj, a lot of cricketers and coaches supported him during his hard days.  "A lot of people were asking me about my well-being. I got a lot of love and support from a lot of people. A lot of players, coaches, my ncy people, Indian Oil people, BCCI and MCA guys were asking how was I feeling," diminutive batsman said.  "re obviously was a period when I was t feeling too well. But n as day of return came closer, I started to get my acts toger.  "If I had gone into a shell at that point of time (ban) I would have felt pressure. But whatever happens, it's for good."  

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Shaw said episode was a big learning experience for him in his nascent career. "I think this period has been a big learning experience for me. Obviously I committed a mistake. I had idea what I was consuming," he said.  "In that period I was alone and was trying to stay away from people and ir advice. I was telling myself that I can get out of this mess and be mentally strong." Shaw said his far was always behind him during turbulent time.  "In life ups and downs will be re. My far has stood behind me and body else is re. In se three months, he was with me like he has been during U-14 and U-16 days. He felt that he needed to be with me," he said.

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