Prithvi Shaw came onto the cricketing scene as a prodigy, earning honours early in his career. Captaining India to victory in the U-19 World Cup, he was hailed as the next big thing in Indian cricket. He was the poster boy of the ICC. His meteoric rise continued with an international debut in 2018, where he scored a century in a Test against West Indies. Earlier, former India coach Ravi Shastri compared Shaw to legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, and Virender Sehwag, a statement that also raised expectations of Indian cricket fans. However, the 25-year-old hit rock bottom of his career when he found no takers at the IPL 2025 auction in Jeddah, with a base price of INR 75 lakh.
Getting benched was frequent, but this one is a new low far cry from the days when he was lauded as Mumbai cricket’s next big thing.
IPL glory and downfall
In the IPL, Prithvi Shaw was initially a star. Delhi Capitals (DC) acquired him in 2018, later retaining him in 2022 for a hefty INR 7.5 crore. However, inconsistent performances saw him dropped from DC’s playing XI and eventually released before the 2025 IPL mega auction.
“Somebody Called Him Lara, Somebody Called Him Sachin”
Reacting to Shaw’s IPL snub, Delhi Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal shared his perspective in an interview with India Today. Jindal didn’t hold back, stating that Shaw’s early success and constant comparisons to cricketing legends may have hindered his growth.
“Prithvi is a great kid but misunderstood in many ways. When all your life you grow up hearing you’re special, the most talented, and compared to Lara or Sachin, it creates pressure. This snub might be the jolt he needs,” Jindal said.
A path to redemption
Jindal also emphasised the need for Shaw to improve his fitness and discipline, urging him to rediscover his love for the game. “He needs to work hard and get back to loving the game again. I hope he comes back and becomes the Prithvi Shaw we once knew,” he added. For Shaw, this could be a wake-up call and a turning point—an opportunity to rebuild his career and prove his critics wrong.
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