Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has offered strong advice to Indian cricketer Prithvi Shaw, urging him to step away from social media and focus on getting fit to revive his faltering career. Shaw, once hailed as India’s next big batting talent, is currently grappling with a career slump, further compounded by going unsold in the IPL 2024 auction.
A Promising Career Derailed
Shaw burst onto the scene in 2018 when he captained India’s U-19 team to a World Cup victory and made an immediate impact in his Test debut, scoring a century against the West Indies. However, his early promise has been overshadowed by inconsistent performances, fitness issues, and disciplinary concerns. Shaw last represented India in July 2021 and has struggled to find a way back since.
Adding to his woes, none of the IPL franchises showed interest in him during the auction, despite a modest base price of INR 75 lakh. This rejection has raised serious questions about his cricketing future.
Pietersen’s Hard-Hitting Advice
Expressing his concerns, Pietersen emphasized the importance of discipline and fitness in Shaw’s journey back to the top. Writing on social media, Pietersen stated, “Some of the greatest sports stories are comeback stories. If Prithvi Shaw has decent people around him, they’d sit him down, get him off social media, and push him to train his absolute backside off to get super fit. He’s too talented to throw it all away.”
Criticism from Indian Cricketing Circles
Former Indian cricketers Mohammed Kaif and Pravin Amre have also weighed in, criticizing Shaw’s off-field behavior and lack of focus. Both believe his attitude and fitness issues have negatively impacted his on-field performance. Shaw’s omission from the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team due to being overweight and unfit further highlights the challenges he faces.
While Shaw returned to play in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, his performances have been underwhelming, offering little to suggest an immediate turnaround in his career.
The Road Ahead
Shaw’s story serves as a cautionary tale of how immense talent must be matched with discipline and hard work. With advice from veterans like Pietersen and criticism from others in the cricketing fraternity, the young batter has a chance to introspect and rebuild. Whether Shaw can channel this tough love into a successful comeback remains to be seen.
