Mumbai opener Prithvi Shaw has once again made headlines, but this time, it’s for reasons off the field. The 24-year-old has been dropped from Mumbai’s squad for their upcoming Ranji Trophy match, sparking rumours of fitness and disciplinary issues. While the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has not officially disclosed the reason behind Shaw’s exclusion, he has been replaced by Akhil Herwadkar for the fixture against Tripura, scheduled to take place from October 26-29, 2024, at the MBB Stadium in Agartala.
The MCA released a statement naming the players selected for the match but remained tight-lipped about Shaw’s absence. However, reports have surfaced claiming that Shaw’s fitness has been a concern and that he has not been consistent in attending practice sessions. According to Cricbuzz, this decision was a unanimous one, and it may serve as a wake-up call for the once-promising star.
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Prior to news of his exclusion, Prithvi Shaw took to Instagram, sharing a cryptic message: “Need a break thx.” This has led to further speculation that the batter is grappling with off-field pressures, in addition to his on-field struggles. Shaw, who captained India to victory in the 2018 U-19 World Cup, was once hailed as the next big thing in Indian cricket.
Prithvi Shaw left out of the Mumbai Ranji squad amid concerns over attendance and fitness. 🥹💔
A tough break for the young talent—time to refocus and bounce back! 💪#Cricket #RanjiTrophy #PrithviShaw #TestCricket #Cricket #BCCI pic.twitter.com/0fi2d1r2Du
— Sportz Point (@sportz_point) October 22, 2024
Prithvi Shaw lived up to the expectations early on, making headlines with a record century on his Test debut in 2018, sparking hopes of a bright future. However, Shaw’s international career has since stalled.
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Shaw has represented India in just five Tests, six ODIs, and one T20I, with his last appearance for the national side coming in July 2021. His current Ranji Trophy campaign hasn’t been particularly fruitful either, with scores of 7, 12, 1, and an unbeaten 39 in his first four innings.
Mumbai squad: Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Ayush Mhatre, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Akhil Herwadkar, Shreyas Iyer, Siddhessh Lad, Suryansh Shedge, Hardik Tamore (wk), Sidhaant Addhatrao (wk), Shams Mulani, Karsh Kothari, Himanshu Singh, Shardul Thakur, Mohit Avasthi, Mohd. Juned Khan and Royston Dias.
