Prithvi Shaw, once considered one of India’s brightest young batting talents, made a strong statement in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025 as he walked out for his first match as Maharashtra captain on Friday (November 28) in Kolkata. Playing against Hyderabad at the JU Second Campus in Salt Lake, the 26-year-old opener announced his arrival in style, smashing a blistering half-century off just 23 balls during Maharashtra’s chase of 192.
For Shaw, the knock carried extra significance. Not only was it his maiden fifty in the domestic T20 league for Maharashtra, but it also came in his debut outing as captain in SMAT 2025. Showing the kind of fearless batting he was once known for in the IPL with Delhi Capitals, Shaw raced to his fifty with eight fours and two sixes, bringing up the milestone with a composed single on the second ball of the ninth over.
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Considered among the few Indians to have lifted the U19 World Cup as captain, Shaw now looks determined to convert this aggressive start into a match-winning innings. Maharashtra will bank on him to finish strongly and chase down the 192-run target with authority.
Prithvi Shaw scored 50 in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He scored fifty in 23 balls against Hyderabad pic.twitter.com/IZ4oWbclrj
— Shivansh rajpal (@RajpalShiv46534) November 28, 2025
This knock also comes as a timely return to form. In Maharashtra’s opening match of the tournament against Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday (November 26), Shaw struggled to make an impact, scoring only five off five balls in a disappointing five-wicket defeat. That match was led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has since joined the Indian ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against South Africa, paving the way for Shaw to take over the captaincy.
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Shaw’s switch from Mumbai to Maharashtra ahead of the 2025–26 domestic season has proven fruitful so far. His performances in the Ranji Trophy have been awe-inspiring, where he has amassed 470 runs in seven innings, including a double century and three half-centuries across five matches.
With this explosive SMAT start, Shaw has not only signalled a fresh chapter in his domestic career but also reminded selectors and fans of the untapped potential he still carries as he aims for a comeback on the bigger stage.
