Mumbai batter Prithvi Shaw has broken his silence following his disappointing outing at the IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah, where he went unsold. Shaw, who had set his base price at INR 75 lakh, failed to attract any bidders on the second day of the auction and was not recalled during the accelerated round.
Amid his IPL snub, Shaw addressed the relentless trolling he has faced on social media, discussing how it impacts him and how he copes with it. In a video shared on the YouTube channel Focused Indian, recorded just before the auction, Shaw reflected on the criticism and memes that have targeted him during his recent struggles.
Dealing with Online Criticism
Shaw pointed out that while social media trolling often comes from people who don’t follow him, their attention to his actions doesn’t go unnoticed.
“If someone is not following me, how are they trolling me? That means they’re keeping an eye on me, which I take as a positive. However, some of the memes and comments do hurt,” he shared.
The 25-year-old also addressed a recent viral video of him dancing during his birthday celebration, which had sparked backlash.
“It was my birthday, and I was just celebrating. I wondered what wrong I had done to deserve such reactions. If I’m genuinely doing something wrong, I can understand, but when I’m not, it should be seen for what it truly is,” Shaw said.
Former Coach Weighs In
Former Delhi Capitals assistant coach Mohammed Kaif expressed his disappointment at Shaw’s exclusion, calling it “shameful” that a player of his talent went unsold. Kaif emphasized Shaw’s ability to dominate powerplays, recalling an instance where he hit six boundaries in a single over off Shivam Mavi.
“Delhi Capitals supported Prithvi a lot because they believed in his potential. Unfortunately, his performances haven’t matched that belief recently. This could be an opportunity for him to return to domestic cricket and rebuild his reputation,” Kaif said, drawing parallels to Sarfaraz Khan, who earned a national call-up through consistent domestic performances.
Shaw’s Recent Struggles
Shaw, who captained India to victory in the 2018 U-19 World Cup, spent seven seasons with Delhi Capitals before being released ahead of the 2025 auction. His underwhelming performances in domestic cricket, coupled with reported fitness concerns, have contributed to his decline in form. Recently, he was dropped from Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy squad, raising further questions about his future.
Despite the setback, cricket experts and fans alike hope Shaw can find his way back to form, much like others who have revived their careers through hard work and consistency at the domestic level.
