Despite his recent absence from the Indian cricket team, Prithvi Shaw cherishes memories from his early days in the national setup. One such memory involves a humorous incident where Virat Kohli played a prank on him during a match against England. Shaw recently recounted this lighthearted episode on the Focused Indian YouTube channel, where he also offered a glimpse into his personal life and home.
Kohli’s Washroom Prank
Sharing the story, Shaw recalled that he was in the dressing room with Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Shami during the match. Not part of the playing XI, Shaw was relaxing near the washroom area.
“Virat bhai entered the washroom, looked at me for a few seconds, and then said, ‘What are you doing here? Don’t you know a wicket has fallen?’ He asked me to check outside,” Shaw narrated.
Eager to respond to the situation, Shaw rushed out to the field, only to discover that the lunch break had already been called ten minutes earlier. Realizing he had been duped, Shaw returned to the dressing room, where Kohli jokingly asked, “You don’t remember it’s lunch?”
Shaw laughed while recalling the incident, emphasizing Kohli’s ability to balance intense focus on the field with a relaxed, playful demeanor off it.
Dressing Room Antics with Rohit Sharma
Shaw also spoke about the camaraderie and lightheartedness within the team, particularly involving Kohli and Rohit Sharma. “On the field, Kohli is all business. But off the field, he’s super chill. He loves having fun, especially with Rohit Sharma. They often tease and play pranks on the youngsters,” Shaw shared.
Shaw’s Rollercoaster Career
Prithvi Shaw burst onto the international scene with immense promise, scoring a century on debut against Bangladesh. However, his career has been marked by inconsistency and setbacks. One of his most challenging moments came during India’s infamous 36 all-out against Australia in Adelaide, after which his Test career stalled.
Criticism over Shaw’s lack of discipline and personal struggles has overshadowed his raw talent. Despite showing flashes of brilliance in the IPL while playing for the Delhi Capitals, including forming a formidable opening pair with Shikhar Dhawan, his career trajectory took a downturn. A falling-out with former coach Ricky Ponting further complicated matters, and Shaw went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction, marking a low point in his career.
A Glimmer of Hope
Though Shaw has faced his share of challenges, his talent remains undeniable. As he reflects on the ups and downs of his journey, moments like Kohli’s prank remind him of the camaraderie and joy of being part of the Indian cricket team. Fans continue to hope that Shaw can find his way back to form and reclaim his place among the game’s elite.
