Follow UsOnce hailed as the next big thing in Indian cricket, Prithvi Shaw has since drifted off the radar due to recurring fitness issues, disciplinary concerns, and a dip in form. Shaw, who last played for India in 2021 and went unsold in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction, has admitted that he made some “wrong decisions and friends” that led to his downfall.
“There are a lot of things. It’s different for people to see. Because I know what has happened. I can understand it. I have made a lot of wrong decisions in life. I started giving less time to cricket. I used to practice a lot. For example, I would bat for three to four hours in the nets. I never got tired of batting. I would go to the ground for half a day. I admit that there was a distraction,” Shaw told News24.
“After that, I started considering things that were not necessary as necessary. I made some wrong friends because I was at the top at the time. Friendships also formed. Then they took me here and there — all those things. That’s when I lost my way. I used to practice for eight hours a day on the ground. Now it’s four hours.
“There are a lot of things. It’s not just that. I also had some family problems. My grandfather had passed away. He was very dear to me. There are a lot of things that I can’t tell you, but I can feel them. I admit my mistakes. But my dad has always supported me, no matter how bad my time was. He has seen both the good and the bad.”
Shaw was dropped from Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy set-up last year and hasn’t played for the side since December 2024. He was also left out of the Vijay Hazare Trophy squad. Recently, he asked for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) and has reportedly been given permission to play for another state as a professional.
“I am on track now. I have gone back to the basics. The hard work I used to do five years ago — I think I have started that routine again. I believe in myself. I don’t know how many people believe in me, but I believe in myself. I know how to get there. That’s why I am doing all this,” Shaw added.