India batter Prithvi Shaw, once hailed as a rising star in Indian cricket, faced a significant blow when he went unsold at the IPL 2025 mega auction held in Jeddah. Despite lowering his base price from ₹2 crore to ₹75 lakh, Shaw failed to attract any bidders, even during the accelerated auction rounds.
Promising Start, Faltering Journey
Shaw first garnered attention as the captain of India’s U-19 World Cup-winning team. Following this success, he was signed by the Delhi Capitals and became a key player. However, inconsistent performances and lackluster seasons saw him released by the franchise last October. This marked a dramatic fall from grace for a player once considered the next big thing in Indian cricket.
Coach Jawala Singh’s Reflections
Jawala Singh, Shaw’s former coach who mentored him from 2015 to 2017, shared his thoughts on the batter’s career trajectory in an interview with Shubhankar Mishra. Singh revealed that Shaw had not reached out to him since his U-19 World Cup victory.
“Prithvi joined me in 2015 when he hadn’t yet played Mumbai’s U-16 matches. His father sought my guidance, and within a year, he was excelling in the U-19 Cooch Behar Trophy. I worked extensively with him during those three years, and it was a proud moment when he led India to victory in the U-19 World Cup. However, since 2017, I haven’t seen or heard from him,” Singh said.
Lack of Discipline and Work Ethic
While Singh did not pinpoint a specific reason for Shaw’s decline, he suggested that a lack of discipline and work ethic may have contributed to his struggles. He emphasized the importance of maintaining consistency, citing the examples of cricket legends like Sachin Tendulkar and rising stars like Yashasvi Jaiswal.
“Talent is only the beginning—it’s a seed. To nurture it into a thriving tree, one needs consistency, which stems from discipline, work ethic, and a focused lifestyle. Even Sachin Tendulkar continuously refined his game, worked on his fitness, and built mental toughness throughout his career. Similarly, Yashasvi Jaiswal, another of my students, has an exceptional work ethic and knows exactly what he needs to do to succeed,” Singh explained.
A Reminder for Shaw
Jawala Singh sent a poignant reminder to Shaw, urging him to reflect on the qualities that made players like Tendulkar and Jaiswal successful. He stressed the importance of staying true to the process and consistently improving to remain at the top level of international cricket.
“Players fail when they stray from the process. A strong work ethic and discipline ensure that you stay on track. This is where Yashasvi shines—he is focused, hardworking, and constantly pushing himself to improve,” Singh concluded.
The Road Ahead
Shaw’s IPL snub serves as a wake-up call for the once-promising talent. While his career is at a crossroads, his journey serves as a reminder that talent alone is not enough—consistent effort, discipline, and a relentless pursuit of excellence are the hallmarks of enduring success in cricket.
