Prithvi Shaw, once considered one of India’s brightest young cricketing talents, continues to face challenges in his career. The 25-year-old batter, who was recently left out of Mumbai’s Vijay Hazare Trophy squad, has now been asked to participate in the Police Shield Invitational Tournament, where he will lead the Mumbai Colts team.
The Police Shield Invitational features two-day matches at various venues in Mumbai, marking a significant step down for Shaw, who once represented India at the highest level. This development follows concerns raised about Shaw’s fitness, discipline, and underwhelming performances in recent tournaments.
Performance Issues and Fitness Concerns
Shaw’s struggles were particularly evident in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Despite Mumbai’s triumph under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy, Shaw failed to make a significant impact with the bat, failing to cross the 200-run mark in the tournament. His only notable contribution came in the quarter-final against Vidarbha.
A Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) official expressed frustration over Shaw’s fitness levels, revealing that his lack of agility in the field often left the team handicapped. “In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, we were practically playing with 10 fielders because Shaw couldn’t cover the field properly. Even while batting, he seemed uncomfortable reaching for the ball,” the official said. “There can’t be separate rules for different players. Fitness, discipline, and attitude are non-negotiable.”
Ongoing Career Struggles
Shaw’s challenges extend beyond domestic cricket. He recently went unsold at the IPL mega auction held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia—a stark contrast to his earlier success in the league. Additionally, he was initially excluded from Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy squad before being given a chance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy after showing signs of improving his fitness.
Mumbai captain Shreyas Iyer also weighed in on Shaw’s situation, urging him to take responsibility for his career. “Prithvi needs to improve his work ethic. If he can sort that out, the sky’s the limit for him. But at the end of the day, it’s his responsibility to figure things out—we can’t babysit him,” Iyer remarked.
Leadership Role in the Police Shield
Despite these setbacks, Shaw has been given an opportunity to prove himself in the Police Shield Invitational. He will captain the MCA Colts squad, which includes a mix of young and promising players such as Vishal Dabholkar, Aryan Pawar, and Siddharth Akre.
MCA Colts Squad: Prithvi Shaw (c), Vishal Dabholkar, Aryan Pawar, Siddharth Tiwari, Aarush Patankar, Siddharth Akre, Arjun Jaiswal, Aryan Chauhan, Vedprakash Jaiswal, Ankit Vishwakarma, Atharva Kardile, Akshat Redkar, Yash Jadhav, Manthan Korgaonkar, Pratham Salaskar, Ratnesh Chaudhary, Harsh Mendon, Anjdeep Lad.
A Critical Juncture in Shaw’s Career
This phase marks a critical juncture for Shaw, who debuted for India in 2018 with immense promise. His recent struggles highlight the need for introspection and a renewed focus on fitness and discipline. Whether Shaw can turn his career around and reclaim his place among India’s cricketing elite remains to be seen.
