Prithvi Shaw opens up on snub from Team India playing XI - Return to the squad is what mattered most

Mumbai, March 6: Team India opener Prithvi Shaw has opened up on his non-selection in the playing XI for the New Zealand T20Is, which took place last month.

Shaw made his comeback to the Indian side for the three-match T20I series against New Zealand after an impressive run in domestic cricket.

But the opener was benched for all the three T20I matches against New Zealand with the team management backing Shubman Gill, who was in fine form in the white-ball formats.

The Mumbai opener, who made his comeback to the Indian whiteball setup after 537 days, feels return to the squad was what mattered the most than being part of the playing XI.

"I felt really nice coming back into the T20I squad, to meet the players and train with them. I enjoyed that bit. Yes I did not get an opportunity but was given the chance of making a comeback, that mattered," he told News24 Sports.

The 23-year-old Shaw also said he respects the team management's decision and added that he will continue to look for opportunities in the side.

"It all depended on them, when to play when not to, but I respected that because probably they wanted to give the person before me a bit longer run," Shaw added.

"But again, I don't regret that. I will keep on looking for opportunities because I have a list of goals I want to achieve with the Indian team."

Shaw, who scored a triple hundred in a Ranji Trophy match earlier this season, explained how he ended his long wait of returning to the Indian squad.

"I kept on scoring runs. I felt if that was not enough then I have to score more and more...then I scored 379. It was just my day and felt I will not let go of this opportunity," Shaw said.

"Sometimes it just tends to hit you that why I am not in the Indian team for so long despite all the efforts...but it's never too late."

In his short international career, Shaw has scored 339 runs in 5 Tests, 189 runs in 6 ODIs and a first-ball duck in his only T20I so far.

Shaw will next be seen in action at the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL 2023) where he is expected to play a crucial role for Delhi Capitals (DC).