Hue and cry on social media, but questionable actions: Mumbai is done with Prithvi Shaw

A tale going on in Indian cricket exemplifies the famous saying, “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” When Prithvi Shaw emerged on the scene as a teenager, leading the Indian U-19 team to World Cup glory, he quickly became the blue-eyed boy of cricket. Pundits saw glimpses of the God of Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar, in Shaw’s game. Some seasoned names even highlighted how Shaw was a mix of all-time greats, including Brian Lara, Virender Sehwag, and, of course, Tendulkar. However, a few years down the line, the same Shaw is struggling to maintain a consistent spot even in domestic cricket. A large part of this downfall, perhaps all of it, stems from Shaw himself. Multiple reports, some backed by video evidence, have surfaced, labeling Shaw as ‘indisciplined.’

"He is his own enemy": MCA official's harsh assessment of Prithvi Shaw

Prithvi Shaw recently stirred drama, not for the first time, after Mumbai overlooked him for the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The batter recently participated in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where Mumbai clinched the title. However, the tournament didn’t fare well for Shaw personally. Across nine innings, he managed a modest 197 runs without reaching a half-century even once. His poor form, however, is not the sole reason the Mumbai management is keeping their distance from the young talent. Consequently, his social media post highlighting his records in List A cricket failed to influence the selectors.

Even if not destined to match Sachin Tendulkar, Prithvi Shaw once appeared to be a talent with the potential to carve out his own legacy in the sport. Unfortunately, the ‘talent’ Shaw possessed didn’t receive the nurturing it required to thrive. Instead, Shaw famously fell into habits detrimental to his career. Even now, as his social media posts suggest he is keen on reclaiming his spot, his attitude seems to be working against him. From his former IPL franchise to his long-time domestic side, everyone appears to agree on one thing: Shaw is currently unfit to be part of any team.

In light of Shaw’s exclusion from Mumbai’s squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, a potential explanation has surfaced, albeit a harsh one. It’s now common knowledge that Shaw relies heavily on his natural instincts and avoids putting in the effort required to hone his skills in the nets. But instincts alone can carry a batter only so far. Additionally, maintaining a high level of fitness is critical for delivering consistent performances on the field, an area where Shaw falls short. At present, he contributes little to his teams, compounded by a temperament that irritates senior players and indiscipline that disrupts team dynamics.

Recently, following Shaw’s vocal reaction to his omission from Mumbai’s 50-over domestic tournament squad, an official from the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) spoke candidly about the player. Without mincing words, the official stated that Shaw is failing to meet the basic criteria to earn a place in the team, citing his fitness and on-field antics during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

"I'll tell you one thing. No one is Shaw's enemy. He is his own enemy," the official began. "In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, we were effectively playing with 10 fielders as we were forced to hide Prithvi Shaw. The ball would pass near him, and he would barely be able to reach it," he added.

"Even while batting, we could see he struggled to reach the ball. His fitness, discipline, and attitude are poor, and it’s pretty simple: there cannot be different rules for different players," he concluded.

Shaw’s off-field behavior has been a subject of discussion for years. However, what intensified concerns around the batter was his failure to find a buyer in the IPL 2025 mega auction. While many players went unsold due to age-related factors, Shaw’s exclusion was a sobering reminder of teams drawing the line when it comes to discipline issues.