With Mumbai needing 251 runs to win the semi-final of the Ranji Trophy last year, Prithvi Shaw, on his First Class debut had slammed a fine hundred. Shaw repeated the feat 637 days later, on the same ground at Rajkot, as he bulldozed West Indies to a 99-ball century and became the second youngest Indian Test centurion after Sachin Tendulkar.

Lovely to see such an attacking knock in your first innings, @prithvishaw! Continue batting fearlessly. #INDvWI pic.twitter.com/IIM2IifRAd

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) October 4, 2018

After India lost an early wicket, Shaw seemed like he was having a net in the middle. His first scoring shot was a crunchy back-foot punch; a stroke synonymous to his dominant back-foot play. He scored more than 56 percent of his runs square on either side of the pitch and looked equally opportunistic on the front-foot as well.

Photo credit: Doordarshan National/Twitter

The 18-year-old, who represented North Mumbai Panthers in the T20 Mumbai league, batted for 154 deliveries and struck 19 fours before he chipped one straight back to the bowler, Devendra Bishoo, at the score of 134. While his nonchalant strokeplay was the highlight of this innings, Shaw’s confidence in the middle was a clear sign that belongs to the highest level of the game.

Shaw what a show 💪 @PrithviShaw

— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) October 4, 2018

“I was thinking of my dad when I scored the hundred," Shaw said as he dedicated his efforts to his father. "He has sacrificed a lot of things for me. This knock is for him”.

His words after the close of play also hinted at his perennial hunger to make an impact. "It was a good wicket to bat on and I wanted to score more runs," he exclaimed. "I was disappointed that I got out with just ten minutes before the tea break.”

He partnered Cheteshwar Pujara for a double century run-stand in which India scored at a touch less than five runs per over and laid the foundation for a mammoth first innings total. His Panthers' teammate, Ajinkya Rahane, missed out on a half-century after he was dismissed for 41.

From an overseas point of view. Shaw has a couple of things going for him. Strong back foot player and plays the ball under his eyes. 👍#PrithviShaw

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) October 4, 2018

With a sound technique, supreme temperament and sempiternal hunger for runs, Shaw is off to a dream start to his international career.