Recovering from a shoulder injury, the precocious Prithvi Shaw could make it to New Zealand, his hopes brightened after what he termed a "superb nets session".
With the Indian selectors yet to name the ODI and Test squads for the tour of New Zealand, all is still not lost for the 20-year-old Shaw.
He was in sparkling touch since returning from his eight-month doping ban, but a shoulder injury on the opening day of Mumbai's Ranji Trophy game against Karnataka cut short his run, ruling him out of India A's two practice matches in New Zealand.
However, a nets session has sent a positive signal.
"My favourite sound -- the sound when the ball hits the middle of my bat. Superb net sessions going on," Shaw tweeted alongside a video of the session.
He was seen driving, cutting and flicking with ease.
Shaw had hurt his left shoulder while trying to save an overthrow during Mumbai's match against Karnataka at the Bandra Kurla Complex a ground in North West Mumbai.
In the first Ranji match against Baroda, he scored 202 and 66. Prior to that, he amassed runs in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy.
He was expected to figure in India A's two practice games during the New Zealand tour.
The selectors will be keen to see if Shaw will be available for the Test series in New Zealand. The first Test will get underway on February 21 at the Basin Reserve in Hamilton and the second match is scheduled to be played at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch, starting February 29.
The selectors will announce the team on January 19.
