Prithvi Shaw’s journey in cricket has hit a challenging phase. The young opener, once hailed as a prodigy for his stellar domestic performances, has struggled to find form and fitness. Shaw last represented India in a T20I against Sri Lanka in July 2021 and has since fallen out of favor with the national selectors.
Though he continued to feature for the Delhi Capitals in the IPL, his underwhelming performance in the 2024 season (198 runs in 8 matches) led to his release. In a further setback, Shaw went unsold in the IPL 2025 mega auction, leaving his future uncertain. Prithvi Shaw’s struggles have extended to the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024, where he has managed just 96 runs in five matches at an average of 19.20 and a strike rate of 137.14 for Mumbai.
His drop from Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy squad earlier this year, due to fitness concerns, underscores the depth of his challenges. However, cricketing greats like Kevin Pietersen and Shane Watson have rallied behind Shaw, urging him to focus on fitness and rediscover his form.
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Kevin Pietersen took to social media to emphasize the importance of discipline and hard work, writing, “Some of the greatest sports stories are COMEBACK stories. If Prithvi Shaw has decent people around him who care about his long-term success, they’d sit him down, tell him to get off social media & train his absolute backside off. Too talented to throw it all away.”
I completely agree @KP24
Prithvi is such a precocious talent and these are all that is required for him to turn things around and be one of Indian Cricket’s biggest heroes. 💪🏻💪🏻— Shane Watson (@ShaneRWatson33) December 4, 2024
Shane Watson echoed this sentiment, praising Shaw’s natural talent. “I completely agree @KP24. Prithvi is such a precocious talent, and these are all that is required for him to turn things around and be one of Indian cricket’s biggest heroes,” Watson remarked.
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Shaw’s story is at a critical juncture. His struggles with form and fitness may have sidelined him, but with support from cricketing legends and a renewed commitment, he has the potential to script one of Indian cricket’s most remarkable comeback stories.
