Having played 79 matches with 1,892 IPL runs, but Prithvi Shaw went unsold in the IPL 2025 mega auction, which came as a shock to many. No one had expected this outcome, although his form could be one of the reasons he failed to grab the attention of franchises. Having represented Delhi Capitals in recent years, his performances did not do the talking, leading to his release before the auction.
While he went unsold, it is still possible for him to make a comeback in IPL 2025 as an injury replacement.
According to the injury replacement rules, if a player from any team gets injured, the franchise can name a replacement from the pool of unsold players. Although it’s difficult to predict such scenarios, but see three teams that may consider Prithvi Shaw if one of their batters gets injured.
LSG
Lucknow Super Giants need a solid name at the top of the order, as they currently lack experienced players to open. All they have are emerging talents like Arshin Kulkarni and Ayush Badoni, the latter usually prefers to bat in the middle order. There is no clear frontline opener at the moment. To tackle this scenario, Prithvi Shaw could be a perfect fit, providing quick starts and fiery runs. Although he’s not exactly in his prime form, the Under-19 World Cup-winning captain still has the ability to take on bowlers in the first six overs.
RCB
Phil Salt and Devdutt Padikkal are both strong contenders to open with Virat Kohli in IPL 2025, but there remains some uncertainty regarding the team’s opening combination. If an injury scenario arises, RCB might consider bringing in Prithvi Shaw as a replacement, which could be a huge advantage for the team. Shaw is known for his aggressive batting and could make an immediate impact. Considering the potential of Padikkal versus Shaw , we can expect Shaw to take the first shot. If Shaw joins the RCB squad as an injury replacement, it would effectively address any opening concerns for the team.
PBKS
Last but not least, Punjab Kings have PrabhSimran Singh and Josh Inglis who look like potential contenders to open the batting, or Marcus Stoinis could also make a strong case. However, PBKS could consider Prithvi Shaw as well. Despite focusing on foreign players, bringing in Shaw could solve the playing XI issue. With a limit of four foreign players in the XI, incorporating Shaw at the top would strengthen their attack. This would allow PBKS to form an impressive playing XI without worrying too much about balancing the foreign player combination.
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