Prithvi Shaw was destined for greatness. Dubbed the next Sachin Tendulkar, before turning 19, he’d already made his international debut and reached the hundred milestone on his debut against the West Indies. If someone had stopped watching cricket at that point and switched back on now, they’d assume he’d be the main batter in the Indian cricket team.
Of course, things didn’t pan out that way. Seven years later, he’s played a grand total of 12 matches for Team India across formats. The last of which came in July 2021. Had he been on the fringes of the team, it would have been fine. But right now, he isn’t even managing to break into his domestic side, Mumbai.
Questions over Prithvi Shaw’s work ethic and fitness
One of the reasons for his exclusion is his poor returns over the last couple of months. But the main concern that selectors and captains have had from him is his lack of work ethic and fitness. Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) alleged that he often skips training and had stated that he was out partying until six in the morning during the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Dropped from Mumbai’s side
Ajinkya Rahane, Mumbai’s captain for the Ranji Trophy, was consulted about dropping him and agreed that he needed a jolt. After winning the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Shreyas Iyer, captain in white-ball cricket, claimed that no one will ‘babysit’ Prithvi Shaw. He’s been told what is required of him.
Subsequently, he wasn’t added to Mumbai’s squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He went back and forth with the MCA over the dropping, but they had made their concerns clear. If Prithvi won’t improve his fitness and work ethic, they aren’t picking him.
More on Cricket
- “I’d be stupid”: Jonny Bairstow breaks silence on England snub, eyes redemption after 9 months absence
- Not Ahmedabad, Amaravati to have India’s biggest cricket stadium as ICC gives approval
- Abhishek Sharma’s net worth, IPL salary and overall stats
Shreyas Iyer’s advice to Prithvi Shaw
Shreyas Iyer has once again said the same. He’d praised the 25-year-old before and has done so now. “Prithvi Shaw also started on a great note. He’s got a great blessing of timing the ball and scoring runs at a great pace. And all of us in the team feel that he is blessed with that phenomenal talent,” Iyer said, speaking at Idea Exchange.
What’s the way to get back on track for the opener who seems to have lost his patch? The answer from his Mumbai skipper is simple. “So, he just has to focus on his work ethic, and everything else will follow. He’s God-gifted,” the Punjab Kings captain added.
Prithvi Shaw hopes to return to Ranji Trophy side
The ball’s now in Prithvi Shaw’s court. Mumbai hasn’t announced their squad for the second leg of the Ranji Trophy yet, and he would have hopes of returning. He’s been toiling hard and seems to have improved his fitness. The question is, are the selectors bought on the idea that Shaw has changed his course and rewarded him or will they continue to sideline him?
