When Sachin Tendulkar first laid eyes on a young Prithvi Shaw, he confidently predicted the Mumbai prodigy would one day play for India. That prophecy came true in 2018, when Shaw made his Test debut against the West Indies in Rajkot. The then-teenager announced himself in style, becoming the youngest Indian to score a century on debut in Test cricket.
Over the next couple of years, Shaw also donned the Indian colours in ODIs and T20Is, sparking hopes of a long and glorious career. However, the fairytale soon hit turbulence. Once hailed as the ‘next Tendulkar,’ Shaw gradually slipped out of India’s plans. Despite churning out runs in domestic cricket and bagging a County stint, his off-field distractions seemed to overshadow his immense talent.
The decline reached a point where Prithvi Shaw chose to end his long association with Mumbai, now gearing up to represent Maharashtra in the upcoming domestic season — a fresh start that could well define the next phase of his career.
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Dinesh Lad, one of Mumbai’s most respected coaches and a mentor to Rohit Sharma, has watched Shaw’s rise and struggles closely. Speaking on a podcast, Lad reflected on Shaw’s journey with a mix of admiration and disappointment.
“I have seen Prithvi since he was 10. He had extraordinary talent, no doubt. But every player’s journey is unique, and I can’t say exactly what went wrong. Unfortunately, he went down the wrong path and it cost him his cricket,” Dinesh Lad said.
Yet, Lad remains optimistic about Indian cricket’s batting future, highlighting names like Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre as bright prospects.
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“Even today, I wish there was a batter like Prithvi in his prime. But the next generation is promising — the way Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre are batting, Indian cricket is in safe hands. They’re waiting in the wings, ready to take the baton,” he added.
From Tendulkar’s prophecy to a career at a crossroads, Prithvi Shaw’s story is a reminder that talent alone isn’t enough — discipline and focus remain just as vital in cricket’s unforgiving world.
