Prithvi Shaw is frustrated at being constantly judged on social media but, after hitting an incredible 379 off 383 in the Ranji Trophy, he said he has learned to shut himself off from the negativity.
On Wednesday, Shaw made the second-highest Ranji Trophy score of all time. Resuming on an overnight score of 240, he just kept going on the second day of Mumbai's Group B match against Assam, scoring a further 139 runs off 99 balls before he was out.
"People who are not with me when I am not doing well, I don't really care about them," Shaw told PTI after the second day's play. "Just like to ignore them. That's the best policy.
"You know you are doing your things right. You know you are doing your processes right, you are honest with yourself, disciplined with your career on and off the field. But sometimes people do talk differently. People who don't even know you judge you."
Shaw became the ninth batter to go past 350 in a Ranji innings, and went past Swapnil Gugale (351*), Cheteshwar Pujara (352), VVS Laxman (353), Samit Gohel (359*), Vijay Merchant (359*), MV Sridhar (366) and Sanjay Manjrekar (377). Just when he seemed poised to hurtle past 400 and beyond, though, he was lbw to Riyan Parag in what turned out to be the last over before lunch.
Bhausaheb Nimbalkar, who scored an unbeaten 443 for Maharashtra against Kathiawar back in December 1948, continues to hold the record for the highest Ranji Trophy score and the highest first-class score by an Indian batter. Shaw, however, has now moved up to No. 2 on both those lists.
"It feels really nice. I could have made that 400. I think I was batting really well but it was just matter of time as big runs weren't coming. I thought, I should give myself more time out there in the middle, display patience and the track needed that," Shaw said.
"The pitch did offer seam movement at the beginning and then as the overs progressed, it started keeping low."
The innings ended a run of poor form for Shaw, who had begun the Ranji season with only one fifty in his first seven innings, and potentially brought him back into the reckoning for an India spot. He last turned out for India in July 2021, during a limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka.
However, he said, he isn't looking too far ahead and just wants to win the Ranji Trophy title with Mumbai.
"I am not even thinking if someone is going to call me in the Indian team. I am just trying to do my things right which I can and not to think too far ahead," Shaw said. "I am a person who loves to live one day at a time. I have to make my today right. I am playing for Mumbai and the goal is to win Ranji Trophy.
Shaw dominated all three partnerships he was involved in against Assam, scoring 75 out of a first-wicket stand of 123 with Musheer Khan, 42 out of a second-wicket stand of 74 with Armaan Jaffer, and 262 out of the 401 he put on with Mumbai captain Ajinkya Rahane for the third wicket.
"It feels really nice to bat with a player of his (Rahane's) stature," he said. "Someone with so much of international experience. His mere presence around this Mumbai side lifts us up. I always try and learn when an international player comes and plays with us."