The career of Prithvi Shaw has unravelled in recent years, having not only fallen out of contention for the senior India team, but also fallen out of favour at the domestic level for Mumbai. Shaw, now 25, has been dropped from Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy squads off late, and criticised for his work ethic by Mumbai’s T20 captain Shreyas Iyer. Now Iyer, who will captain Punjab Kings (PBKS) in IPL 2025, has emphasised his confidence in Prithvi Shaw’s abilities, but issued a similar warning regarding his work ethic.

Speaking in an interview with the Indian Express, Iyer had a simple advice for Shaw.

“Prithvi Shaw also started on a great note. He’s got a great blessing of timing the ball and scoring runs at a great pace. And all of us in the team feel that he is blessed with that phenomenal talent. So, he just has to focus on his work ethic and everything else will follow,” Iyer said.

“He is God-gifted,” Iyer added, showing how highly Shaw is still rated in Indian cricket.

Shaw’s struggles have come as a result of indiscipline reported by teammates and coaches, and it saw him get left out of Mumbai’s Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024/25 squad, despite being a part of their Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy-winning XI.

The 25-year-old did not find an IPL team at the mega auction either, going unsold despite lowering his base price to Rs 75 lakh.

“Tell me God, what more do I have to see..if 65 innings, 3399 runs at an average of 55.7 with a strike rate of 126, I’m not good enough…but I will keep my faith in you and hopefully people believe in me still,” Shaw had posted on Instagram after being dropped.

Meanwhile, Iyer was unveiled as Punjab Kings captain on reality show Bigg Boss, and has been selected by India for the Champions Trophy 2025.

Shreyas Iyer wants Prithvi Shaw to work on his fitness and everything will fall into place.© Instagram

The 2011 Cricket World Cup final is a day held dear by many Indians, as it was the day India lifted the trophy after 28 years. One such person who was present at the iconic Wankhede Stadium to experience the moment was a young Prithvi Shaw, then only 11 years old. Shaw was at the Wankhede alongside none other than Arjun Tendulkar, the son of India legend Sachin Tendulkar, who was on the playing field. Shaw reminisced on the moment when he watched India lift the World Cup alongside his friend Arjun.

Speaking on the eve of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), Shaw reflected on what he described as his first memory at the Wankhede.

“My first memory that I remember, and it’s for the rest of my life, was when I came here to watch the 2011 World Cup. I was 11 that time; me and Arjun Tendulkar, my friend, we both sat here and watched that game live,” Shaw narrated.

“I still remember the moment when we lifted that World Cup. What an experience. That was my first time,” Shaw added.

Shaw himself has been hailed as one of Mumbai’s brightest talents in recent years, although his career may not have turned out as he would’ve hoped. Having seen Sachin Tendulkar lift the World Cup in front of his eyes, alongside his son, Shaw would experience a similar moment some years later, albeit at a junior level.

In 2018, Shaw led India to the 2018 U19 World Cup title, leading a generation boasting talents like Shubman Gill and Arshdeep Singh to the cup.

However, Shaw has endured a difficult few months. The batter has been continually dropped from Mumbai’s sides in domestic cricket, with indiscipline cited as the major factor. He also went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction.

Meanwhile, Arjun Tendulkar plies his trade for Goa in domestic cricket.

File photo of Prithvi Shaw© BCCI/IPL

File photo of Prithvi Shaw.© BCCI

File photo of Prithvi Shaw© AFP

Prithvi Shaw has been dealt yet another blow. The star batter, who was once considered the next big thing in Indian cricket, has not been included in Mumbai’s team for the Vijay Hazare Trophy – the BCCI’s premier domestic competition for one-dayers. Shaw recently made headlines after going unsold in the IPL 2025 auction despite a base price of Rs 75 lakh. He could not perform consistently in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy too. He scored only 10 in the final which Mumbai won. 

Now, the latest development has dealt another blow to Shaw’s career. “Tell me God, what more do I have to see..if 65 innings, 3399 runs at an average of 55.7 with a strike rate of 126, I’m not good enough…but I will keep my faith in you and hopefully people believe in me still..cause I will come back for sure..OM SAI RAM,” Shaw wrote on his Instagram story. 

Prithvi Shaw’s fall from prodigy to prodigal has been swift and seemingly irreversible, but Shreyas Iyer feels the Mumbai batter can touch the deserved heights if he “gets his work ethics right.” Shaw gave glimpses of his immense talent in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which Mumbai bagged under Shreyas, while making 197 runs over nine matches but he could not even make a fifty. 

“I think personally he is a God gifted player. The amount of talent he possesses as an individual, no one has it. It’s just that he needs to improve his work ethics,” said Iyer after Mumbai’s 5-wicket win over Madhya Pradesh here in the SMAT final.

“He needs to get his work ethics right. And if he does that, sky’s the limit for him,” he said.

However, Iyer said the desire to embrace redemption should stem within Shaw himself.

“We can’t babysit anyone, right? He has played so much of cricket. Everyone has given him inputs. At the end of the day, it’s his job to figure out things for himself. And he has also done it in the past. It’s not that he hasn’t,” he said.

Detailing his point, Iyer said: “He has to focus. He has to sit back, put a thinking cap on. He will get the answer by himself. No one can force him to do anything.”

With PTI inputs 

Prithvi Shaw’s fall from prodigy to prodigal has been swift and seemingly irreversible, but Shreyas Iyer feels the Mumbai batter can touch the deserved heights if he “gets his work ethics right.” Shaw gave glimpses of his immense talent in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which Mumbai bagged under Shreyas, while making 197 runs over nine matches but he could not even make a fifty. “I think personally he is a God gifted player. The amount of talent he possesses as an individual, no one has it. It’s just that he needs to improve his work ethics,” said Iyer after Mumbai’s 5-wicket win over Madhya Pradesh here in the SMAT final.

“He needs to get his work ethics right. And if he does that, sky’s the limit for him,” he said.

However, Iyer said the desire to embrace redemption should stem within Shaw himself.

“We can’t babysit anyone, right? He has played so much of cricket. Everyone has given him inputs. At the end of the day, it’s his job to figure out things for himself. And he has also done it in the past. It’s not that he hasn’t,” he said.

Detailing his point, Iyer said: “He has to focus. He has to sit back, put a thinking cap on. He will get the answer by himself. No one can force him to do anything.” Iyer’s appreciation of Ajinkya Rahane’s contribution to Mumbai’s SMAT victory should work as a guide for Shaw.

“He is that sort of a character who will give 110% for the team. He started at number 4, where he knew that there were two openers. So, he sacrificed his position and then after that when Surya came in, he became an opener. So he is a fantastic team-man “But irrespective, salute to him, the way he approached each and every game, match by match. I am a firm believer of someone who has a certain type of routine and he is one of them,” he said.

It came as a little surprise then that Rahane emerged as the top run-getter in this edition of SMAT with 469 runs at an average of 58.62, and at a strike-rate of 165.

Mumbai’s cupboard is brimming with young talent, and Iyer underlining that fact might just also have been a mild warning to Shaw to knuckle down.

“All the youngsters who have come up and the way they showcase their talent is simply phenomenal. You should see their character and their approach outside the dressing room and also on the field.

“They’re fearless in their approach and this is the kind of players we need to back. And for me personally, whenever I go out there I want to win. It doesn’t matter who we play, winning is something that makes me feel happy and it is everything for me,” he explained.

But for now, Iyer wants to immerse in the joy of leading his side to the second SMAT title after 2022, without worrying about the road ahead including a new IPL franchise in Punjab Kings.

“Right now I just want to go and enjoy it with my teammates. I am not thinking about what to plan ahead. Go out there, enjoy with my teammates, my family, my friends “Get some applause from my friends about this success. Cherish it. And after that we will see what is up there,” said Iyer.

Prithvi Shaw once again came under a lot of fire after he failed to score big for Mumbai in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final against Madhya Pradesh on Sunday. While Mumbai ended up clinching the trophy quite easily, Prithvi was dismissed for 10 off 6 deliveries. It has been a tough year for Prithvi after he went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction and he finished the tournament without a single 50+ score. Prithvi started his innings well but was dismissed early by Tripuresh Singh. Users on social media were not happy with his failure and they were quick to express their disappointment.

Prithvi Shaw rightly went unsold at the auction. No fitness. No fielding. No discipline. Cameos at best with the bat.

— Vipul Ghatol (@Vipul_Espeaks) December 15, 2024

Mumbai leaned on their collective batting strength to subdue a spirited Madhya Pradesh by five wickets to clinch the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on Sunday. Mumbai were stretched on more than one occasion during the chase of 175, a target MP built around skipper Rajat Patidar‘s fluent unbeaten 81, on a slightly tacky pitch, but eventually they reached 180 for five in 17.5 overs.

Prithvi Shaw isn’t even trying to prove the owners of IPL teams wrongpic.twitter.com/zBftxSHjFg

— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) December 15, 2024

This was Mumbai’s second SMAT title after winning it for the first time in 2022, while MP’s wait for a maiden trophy prolonged to another season.

After a brief period of lull, Suryakumar Yadav (48, 35b, 4×4, 3×6) reactivated his run-making ways and added 52 runs for the third wicket with Ajinkya Rahane (37, 30b, 4×4).

It helped Mumbai to recover from the early dismissals of Prithvi Shaw and skipper Shreyas Iyer, both of them falling to rather causal shots.

At 129 for five in 14.4 overs, Mumbai needed 46 runs but any worries were soon eased by the big-hitting Suryansh Shedge (36 not out, 15b, 3×4, 3×6) and Atharva Ankolekar (16 not out, 6b, 2×6) who knocked off the remaining runs without much fuss in a little over three overs.

Earlier, Patidar shone brightly while hammering his fifth fifty of this tournament.

The right-hander, who was retained by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, entertained an over 15,000-crowd, who backed him and MP to the hilt, with twinkling shot-making.

In fact, Patidar singlehandedly held the MP innings together as the next highest was a 23 by Shubhranshu Senapati.

(With PTI inputs)

Mumbai made a mockery out of Vidarbha’s total of 221/6 to enter the semi-finals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on Wednesday. By doing so, the Shreyas Iyer-led side smashed the record books in T20 cricket. Mumbai achieved the highest successful chase in a Men’s T20 knockout game, and are also the first team to chase 220 or more. They surpassed Karachi Dolphins’ previous best tally of chasing 210 against Rawalpindi Rams in the semi-final of the Faysal Bank T20 Cup 2010 at the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore.

Recapping the match, Mumbai needed a strong chase and out-of-favour batter Ajinkya Rahane led from the front with an 84 off 45 balls (10×4, 3×6). Mumbai made 224 for four in 19.2 overs and they will face Baroda in the semifinals on Friday.

Under-fire Prithvi Shaw (49, 26b, 5×4, 4×6) reminded of the immense talent beneath his callous exterior with a powerful knock as Mumbai marched to 83 in just 7 overs.

Shaw fell to left-arm pacer Dipesh Parwani and that brought in a period of instability in the Mumbai innings.

Skipper Shreyas Iyer (5) and India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav (9) fell in quick succession as Mumbai were reduced to 118 for three in the 11.1 overs.

They still needed 104 runs from the remaining eight overs.

Rahane, who played a few sublime shots, fell when his side was at 157 in 15.1 overs.

But India middle-order batter Shivam Dube (37 not out, 22b, 1×4, 2×6), who was dropped early in his innings by Karun Nair, and Suyansh Shedge (36, 12b, 1×4, 4×6) clobbered 67 runs in a little over four overs to take their side home.

The frenetic run collection included a 22-run over by Shedge off off-spinner Mandar Mahale through a sequence of 6, 6, 6, 4 in the 17th over.

Earlier, Atharva Taide (66, 41b, 10×4, 1×6), Apoorva Wankhade (51, 33b, 2×4, 3×6) and Shubham Dubey (43, 19b, 3×4, 3×6) led Vidarbha’s run glut.

(With PTI Inputs)