IPL 2023: 'We are going to see real Prithvi Shaw this season,' says Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting

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New Delhi, March 24: Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting believes the upcoming IPL 2023 is going to be a landmark season for young India batter Prithvi Shaw saying the talented cricketer is hungrier than ever.

Ponting while interacting with media on Friday (March 24) after the official launch of the Delhi Capitals jersey for the new season, gave a peek at the message he has for the youngsters in the team and also backed Shaw for doing well in the tournament, starting March 31.

Prithvi Shaw has long history of intrigue and controversy

Shaw - who made all the right noises in the domestic circuit with his match-winning performances for Mumbai in Ranji Trophy - has had a turbulent last month after getting mired in a massive controversy. The right-handed batter from Mumbai was accused of assault and harassment by an influencer and actor, Sapna Gill, last month.

When asked about his message to promising talents like Shaw - who get caught in controversies on-and-off the pitch - the legendary Australia batter said the 23-year-old is motivated enough and he's looking determined to prove his mettle this time around.

"He's been at the NCA (for quite some time and) training up there. He joined the Delhi Capitals' training camp as soon as he could. He's worked harder and trained better than I've ever seen. I've never seen Prithvi Shaw in a better shape than this, leading into the IPL. He's in better physical shape than I've ever seen him before.

Ponting has strong message for young cricketers

"I spoke to him the day about his attitude and the way he's working and how things are going. And I honestly feel that this is going to be his biggest season ever in the IPL. He just has that different look in his eye this year.

You can see that he's probably hungrier than ever. Yes, he's had some success for us. But I think with the level of talent and ability that he's got. I think we're going to see the real, Prithvi Shaw this season."

Ponting had run-ins with Cricket Australia

Ponting - who had his fair share of run-ins with the Australian cricket administrations during his early years in the 1990s - could be the best person who can help someone like Shaw, with ways to deal with the noise outside the field for he could be the perfect example of 'been there, done that'.

When asked about things he likes to talk to youngsters liquid, who also had some sort of troubles off the pitch, the two-time World Cup-winning captain said, "Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. And it's well documented that I had some issues early on, but it's all about just being true to yourself and just wanting to be the best you can be.

"One thing that I always say to our players is, I don't like laziness, and I don't like guys not utilising the talents that they've got. And that's what my job as a coach is."

"If I can see that guys aren't working as hard as they should, they're not getting the most out of them, then it's up to me to try and change that. It just seems to me that this season, something is really clicked with, Prithvi. He seems in a better space than ever before.

"In fact, he's done extra work in every session since we've been here, whether it's been on his batting, his fitness or fielding. So that's a great sign," the 48-year-old added further.

Message of coach Ricky Ponting for Prithvi Shaw

Ponting - who has played 168 Tests, 375 ODIs and 17 T20Is for Australia - also revealed the chat he recently had with the Mumbaikar - who has been called the next big thing in Indian Cricket but hasn't done justice to his talent due to issues happening outside the field.

The right-handed batter - who has amassed nearly 27000 international runs and slammed 71 centuries in his illustrious career - asserted, "I actually said to him at the end of training two days ago, that this game the game of cricket if you don't pay full attention to the game it'll take away from you but if you put in and do the hard yards in the game will get back to you all the time. And that's why I feel that this going to be a big year for him."