Mumbai opener Prithvi Shaw has been excluded from the squad for the first three matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, set to begin on December 21. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) announced a 17-member team on Tuesday, and Shaw’s absence marks yet another setback for the talented batter.
Poor Form and Missed Opportunities
Shaw, 25, recently participated in Mumbai’s victorious Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign. However, his performance with the bat was underwhelming, as he scored only 197 runs across nine matches. In the final against Madhya Pradesh in Bengaluru, Shaw could manage just 10 runs, raising concerns about his consistency.
Adding to his woes, Shaw went unsold in the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction held in Jeddah earlier this year. His exclusion from the Ranji Trophy squad in October was already seen as a warning for the young batter, whose career has been shadowed by fitness and disciplinary issues.
In the 2024 Ranji Trophy season, Shaw scored a mere 59 runs in four innings, failing to make an impact.
Shreyas Iyer’s Take on Prithvi Shaw
Mumbai captain Shreyas Iyer, who has been vocal about Shaw’s immense talent, recently emphasized the importance of introspection for the batter. “He is a God-gifted player with immense talent,” Iyer remarked. “But he needs to improve his work ethics. It’s something only he can figure out for himself. Everyone has given him inputs, but it’s up to him to make the changes.”
Mumbai Squad and Leadership Updates
Shreyas Iyer will lead the Mumbai team in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, while Ajinkya Rahane has taken a break due to personal reasons. Key players such as Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, and Shardul Thakur are also part of the squad for the tournament.
Mumbai is grouped in Group C alongside Nagaland, Hyderabad, Saurashtra, Punjab, Puducherry, Arunachal Pradesh, and Karnataka. Their first match is scheduled against Karnataka on December 21 at the Narendra Modi Stadium B Ground in Ahmedabad.
Mumbai Squad for the First Three Matches
Captain: Shreyas Iyer
Players: Ayush Mhatre, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Jay Bista, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Siddhesh Lad, Hardik Tamore, Prasad Pawar, Atharva Ankolekar, Tanush Kotian, Shardul Thakur, Royston Dias, Juned Khan, Harsh Tanna, Vinayak Bhoir
The Road Ahead for Shaw
Prithvi Shaw’s exclusion from the Vijay Hazare Trophy squad underscores the challenges he currently faces in his cricketing career. While his talent remains unquestionable, his ability to overcome these setbacks and return to form will be closely watched in the coming months.
