<p>The time spent away from cricket felt like a "torture" but India opener Prithvi Shaw believes he returned hungrier after serving a doping ban last year.</p>.<p>Shaw was handed a back-dated eight-month suspension by the Indian cricket board for the doping violation after the opener said he had inadvertently ingested a prohibited substance.</p>.<p>The 20-year-old, who smashed a century on his test debut against West Indies in 2018, returned to international cricket during the tour of New Zealand earlier this year.</p>.<p>"It was a mistake. And the period away from cricket was torture," the Delhi Capitals player told fans of his Indian Premier League (IPL) team in an Instagram Live chat.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-indias-tally-spikes-over-11200-death-toll-rises-to-394-817763.html"><strong>For latest updates on coronavirus outbreak, click here</strong></a></p>.<p>"Doubts and questions arise, but I kept the faith and belief... When the ban got over, and I returned to domestic cricket, I was hungrier than before.</p>.<p>"I picked up my bat and realised I hadn't lost my touch at all. If anything, that time off made me a more determined person."</p>.<p>Shaw made his one-day debut in New Zealand even though India were whitewashed in the three-match series.</p>.<p>Like any professional cricketer, Shaw is cooling his heels at home after this year's IPL was indefinitely postponed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>.<p>Shaw stressed that patience was key in coping with the lull in the cricket world.</p>.<p>"Mental strength is very important at this time, given that we are all restricted indoors," he said.</p>.<p>"A lot of us don't have patience for things in life, so now is a great time to work on it.</p>.<p>"I've been working out a bit indoors and shadow practising to maintain my fitness levels.</p>.<p>"I've also been helping my father in the kitchen. I can cook eggs quite well, and I'm trying to learn a few new things."</p>
<p>The time spent away from cricket felt like a "torture" but India opener Prithvi Shaw believes he returned hungrier after serving a doping ban last year.</p>.<p>Shaw was handed a back-dated eight-month suspension by the Indian cricket board for the doping violation after the opener said he had inadvertently ingested a prohibited substance.</p>.<p>The 20-year-old, who smashed a century on his test debut against West Indies in 2018, returned to international cricket during the tour of New Zealand earlier this year.</p>.<p>"It was a mistake. And the period away from cricket was torture," the Delhi Capitals player told fans of his Indian Premier League (IPL) team in an Instagram Live chat.</p>.<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-news-live-updates-indias-tally-spikes-over-11200-death-toll-rises-to-394-817763.html"><strong>For latest updates on coronavirus outbreak, click here</strong></a></p>.<p>"Doubts and questions arise, but I kept the faith and belief... When the ban got over, and I returned to domestic cricket, I was hungrier than before.</p>.<p>"I picked up my bat and realised I hadn't lost my touch at all. If anything, that time off made me a more determined person."</p>.<p>Shaw made his one-day debut in New Zealand even though India were whitewashed in the three-match series.</p>.<p>Like any professional cricketer, Shaw is cooling his heels at home after this year's IPL was indefinitely postponed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.</p>.<p>Shaw stressed that patience was key in coping with the lull in the cricket world.</p>.<p>"Mental strength is very important at this time, given that we are all restricted indoors," he said.</p>.<p>"A lot of us don't have patience for things in life, so now is a great time to work on it.</p>.<p>"I've been working out a bit indoors and shadow practising to maintain my fitness levels.</p>.<p>"I've also been helping my father in the kitchen. I can cook eggs quite well, and I'm trying to learn a few new things."</p>