Prithvi Shaw: The Young Sensation

The story of Prithvi Shaw has been full of ups and downs. From breaking multiple records in Mumbai’s school cricket arena followed by winning the Under 19 World Cup in New Zealand and a memorable Test debut against West Indies to getting dropped from the team after India’s infamous loss in the first Test against Australia in December 2020 the young right-hander has seen it all

The Initial Years

Prithvi Shaw made a name for himself in Mumbai’s school cricket tournaments when he scored 546 runs during a Harris Shield match at the age of 14 which was his moment of recognition. Having lost his mother at a young age, Shaw's responsibility fell entirely on his father, Pankaj Shaw, who gave up his business and moved to Mumbai from Virar in 2006 in an attempt to get Shaw closer to the MIG ground in Bandra. In 2010, retired Mumbai spinner Nilesh Kulkarni spotted Shaw and got his sports management company to sign the young batter for INR 3,00,000 per annum. The off-field battles shaped young Shaw as a tough cricketer who is ready to take on challenges at a tender age and the mental toughness was translated into truckloads of runs at the first-class level. Shaw continued the good work by scoring a century on his Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy debut during the 2016-17 season a feat achieved only by Sachin Tendulkar. The consistent performances in domestic cricket earned Shaw a place in India’s Under 19 team for 2018 Under 19 World Cup in New Zealand which the Boys in Blue won under his leadership.

The IPL Journey

Besides Prithvi shaw leadership skills, Shaw was also brilliant with the bat in the multination tournament as the right-hander scored 261 runs at an average of 65 with two half-centuries. An impressive performance in the World Cup earned him an Indian Premier League contract with Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) where he impressed everyone with his elegant strokeplay. Shaw is a part of the elite list of players who have hit six fours in an over the former India Under 19 captain took his Under 19 teammate Shivam Mavi to the cleaners during a league match against Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2021.

The International Debut

Shaw received his maiden India call-up for the home Test series against West Indies after a host of good performances in IPL and domestic cricket and the right-hander made the most of the opportunity by scoring a blistering century on his Test debut which was followed by another impressive performance in the second Test. With a string of good scores in his debut series, Shaw was considered to make it big at the highest level until he got injured in a practice game when India toured Australia in 2018.

The Injury and the ban

Shaw injured his ankle while fielding in a practice game during India’s tour of Australia in 2018 and was subsequently ruled out of the Test series. It was the start of a very frustrating period for the youngster as his comeback in international cricket was halted after he consumed a prohibited substance found in cough syrup and was handed a backdated eight-month ban in 2019. Speaking to Cricbuzz Shaw admitted that it was his mistake as he did not consult the team physio before consuming the cough syrup.

The Comeback

The right-hander made his India comeback in 2020 on India’s tour of New Zealand where he also made his ODI debut when both senior batters Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma were ruled out of the series due to injuries. Shaw was impressive in the two-match Test series succeeding the ODIs as he scored a hard-fought half-century in the first innings of the second Test on a challenging surface.

The Downfall

Shaw was part of India’s infamous loss in the first Test against Australia in December 2020 but the right-hander wasn’t able to make a significant contribution with the bat and was dropped for the second Test in Melbourne. What followed were a string of injuries, off-field controversies, and fitness issues as a result his performances on the field took a back seat.

The Road Ahead

Shaw has been in the news more for his off-field activities rather than his performances on the field. From getting trolled for his weight to a video of him being hackled by fans going viral on social media the former Under 19 captain has been the talk of the town for the past couple of years. Having said that Shaw is now letting his bat do the talking. In a bid to make his international comeback, he played a few matches for English county Northamptonshire where the right-hander scored a double century in the domestic fifty-over competition.

The Setback

It seemed like things had again started falling in place for Shaw before he got injured and his stint with the county was cut short. The injury kept him out of action for six months before making a comeback in the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy season for Mumbai.

Also Read: https://news24online.com/sports/prithvi-shaws-huge-remark-on-indias-comeback-after-his-historic-244-knock-for-northamptonshire-read-here/158403/