Prithvi Shaw's Transition: From Mumbai Cricket to New Horizons
Prithvi Shaw's New Chapter in Domestic Cricket
Prithvi Shaw, the once-prominent opener, has recently made headlines by deciding to leave his long-time state team, Mumbai, to join another team for the upcoming domestic cricket season. He successfully obtained a no-objection certificate from the Mumbai Cricket Association, allowing him to pursue opportunities with a different state association in Indian domestic cricket.
A Promising Start and Challenges
Shaw has been a part of Mumbai cricket since his youth, representing the team across various age groups before making his senior debut in 2017 during a Ranji Trophy semifinal against Tamil Nadu, which Mumbai won by six wickets.
Initially hailed as the next Sachin Tendulkar after matching the legendary cricketer's record of scoring centuries in both his Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy debuts, Shaw's journey faced hurdles due to inconsistent performances, injuries, and personal issues. These factors led to his exclusion from the national team and limited his chances in domestic competitions.
Support from Rishabh Pant During Tough Times
In a recent interview, Shaw expressed that during his challenging times, few prominent cricketers reached out to him. He specifically mentioned that Rishabh Pant checked in on him, acknowledging that Sachin Tendulkar is aware of his struggles, having witnessed his growth alongside Tendulkar's son, Arjun.
"Except for Rishabh Pant and Sachin Tendulkar, no one else reached out. Sachin knows my journey as he has seen me grow up with Arjun. I have visited his home too," the 26-year-old shared.
IPL Journey and Recent Developments
Shaw and Pant played together for the Delhi Capitals from 2018 to 2024 in the Indian Premier League. However, Pant was acquired by the Lucknow Super Giants during the IPL 2025 Auction, marking the end of his nine-year stint with the Capitals, while Shaw went unsold, even at his base price of INR 75 lakh.
Throughout his IPL career, Shaw has scored 1,892 runs, including 14 fifties, with an average of 23.95 and a strike rate of 147.27 across 79 matches.
Reflections on Career Choices
Reflecting on his career trajectory, Shaw acknowledged that poor decisions contributed to his decline despite an early rise in both domestic and international cricket. He attributed some of his distractions to the influence of 'wrong friends'.
"There are many factors at play. People may not see everything, but I understand my journey. I made several poor choices and began to neglect cricket. I used to practice extensively, often spending 3-4 hours batting in the nets. However, distractions crept in, and I started prioritizing unnecessary things," Shaw explained.
"I made some wrong friendships during my peak, which led me astray. I used to dedicate eight hours to practice, but now it's down to four hours," he added.
Current Status and Future Prospects
Since December of last year, Shaw has not represented Mumbai after being dropped from the Ranji Trophy squad due to fitness and disciplinary issues. Although he has not disclosed which state team he plans to join for the next domestic season, reports suggest he may be heading to Maharashtra.
Recently, Shaw participated in the Mumbai T20 League 2025, playing for North Mumbai Panthers, where he scored 137 runs at an average of 27.40 in five matches.