NEW DELHI: Opening batter Prithvi Shaw shared his frustration through a social media post after being excluded from Mumbai’s squad for the first three Vijay Hazare Trophy matches. His post highlighted his List A career statistics.
Shaw’s post questioned his exclusion despite an average of 55.7 across 65 innings, totaling 3,399 runs with a strike rate of 126. He expressed faith and hope that people still believe in him, promising a comeback.
The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) announced the 17-member squad on Tuesday, omitting Shaw. This marks another setback for the young cricketer.
“Tell me, God, what more do I have to see… If 65 innings, 3,399 runs at an average of 55.7 with a strike rate of 126 isn’t good enough… But I will keep my faith in you, and hopefully, people still believe in me… because I will come back for sure.”
Shaw’s post conveys his disappointment and determination to prove his worth. The pressure is on for him to address his shortcomings and fulfill his immense potential.
Shaw’s challenges began with his removal from Mumbai’s Ranji team due to fitness concerns. He went unsold in the IPL 2025 auctionwith no bids even at its base price of Rs 75 lakh.
Shaw has accumulated 197 runs from nine matches at an average of 21.88, maintaining a remarkable strike rate of 156.34. In the SMAT final against Madhya Pradesh on Sunday, he managed to score just 10 runs.
Despite Mumbai’s victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, captain Shreyas Iyer commented on Shaw’s talent and the need for self-reflection.
“I think, personally, he is a God-gifted player. The amount of talent he possesses as an individual, no one else has it. That’s true. It’s just that he needs to improve his work ethic,” said Shreyas Iyer.
Iyer emphasized the importance of Shaw addressing his work ethic, suggesting it is the key to unlocking his full potential. He acknowledged Shaw’s abundant talent.
“And I have said it before in many interviews. He needs to get his work ethic right. If he does that, the sky is the limit for him. Can you force him to? I can’t force him. He has played so much cricket, and everyone has given him inputs. At the end of the day, it’s his job to go out there and figure things out for himself,” he concluded.
Shaw’s exclusion from both the Ranji and Vijay Hazare Trophy squads raise concerns about his future. His talent is undeniable, but his fitness and disciplinary issues continue to hinder his progress.
Mumbai squad: Shreyas lyer (Captain), Ayush Mhatre, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Jay Bista, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Siddhesh Lad, Hardik Tamore (WK), Prasad Pawar (WK), Atharva Ankolekar, Tanush Kotian, Shardul Thakur, Royston Dias. , Juned Khan, Harsh Tanna, Vinayak Bhoir.