There was a time in Indian cricket when Prithvi Shaw was considered the next big star after Virat Kohli. After winning the Under-19 World Cup in 2018, his name was echoing everywhere. However, the story changed in a few years. Not only was he out of the Indian team, but no team showed interest in buying him in the 2025 IPL auction.
Shaw started his journey in the IPL with Delhi Capitals. He was a part of this franchise for seven years. Despite 1283 runs in 79 matches, an average of 24 and a strike rate of 147, the Mumbaikar did not find any buyer in the 2025 auction. This was a clear indication that he had disappointed at both the level of performance and fitness.
In a recent interview, Prithvi expressed his future hopes. He said that if he gets a chance, he would like to play for the Mumbai Indians because he hails from there. This is interesting because the opener has never been a part of this team till now, despite the fact that Mumbai has been the base of his cricket career.
“I would like to play for Mumbai, if given a chance, since I’m from here," the 25-year-old said.
Prithvi Shaw has seen a decline in his fitness levels
Regarding the decline in his fitness level, Prithvi himself said that he is very fond of eating. He admitted that he used to eat a lot of food and then rest, due to which weight gain was inevitable. Shaw did not have a special liking for junk food, but 'overeating' caused him great harm. This clearly shows that a lack of discipline derailed his career.
“Im a big foodie. I didn’t have control over it. I don’t have interest in junk food like Pani Puri or Vada Pav. But I used to eat a lot of food at once and take a nap or something. If I didn’t train for a while, the weight gain used to be evident,” Shaw said.
Opinion:
Prithvi's story is a lesson for all those youth who take their hard work lightly after initial success. Talent in itself is not enough, unless it is accompanied by discipline and consistency. Even though Prithvi is now 25 and has failed many times, if he brings changes at both mental and physical levels, then a comeback is not impossible. Opportunities never end in a tournament like the IPL. He just has to prove himself again, and the results will start showing automatically. Then, his comeback to the Indian team might as well materialise.
Not everyone gets a second chance in the sports world, but when a player admits his mistakes and talks openly, then his efforts matter. Shaw has accepted the reason for his failure for the first time, which can be a good start. Players like Prithvi Shaw used to be the hopes of Indian cricket. He is still not finished. There is still that ease in his batting, which he had shown at the beginning of his career. However, now is not the time to just show desire, but to change yourself every day and work hard. Only then will a franchise think of giving him a chance again.
