Prithvi Shaw: The Ascent and Decline of a Cricket Prodigy

In the previous month, Rishabh Pant secured a record-breaking contract, becoming the most expensive player in Indian Premier League (IPL) history after being acquired by Lucknow SuperGiants for 27 crore rupees (£2.54m) at the mega auction held in Saudi Arabia. However, greater attention was drawn to the fact that Prithvi Shaw, Pant’s teammate at Delhi Capitals, remained unsold. Notable figures present at the auction, including Sourav Ganguly and Ricky Ponting, who had close ties to Shaw during his time with the Capitals, and Rahul Dravid, who coached India to victory in the under-19 World Cup with Shaw as captain in 2018, showed no interest. This lack of bids for Shaw was significant; he did not attract any buyers. Paradoxically, only nine months prior, preceding the commencement of the 2024 IPL season, it was Pant’s career that appeared to be in peril. A severe car accident in December 2022 had resulted in numerous life-threatening injuries for him. Nevertheless, demonstrating immense resolve, strong determination, and self-discipline, Pant successfully recovered from what many considered a career-ending situation. Pant confronted the difficulties of IPL 2024 directly and performed exceptionally well, leading to his swift return to international cricket. He was included in the T20 World Cup-winning team. His strong performance in the domestic season, particularly in the Duleep Trophy, facilitated a remarkable comeback to Test cricket. He delivered an outstanding century against Bangladesh. Concurrently, Shaw, facing scrutiny after two underwhelming IPL seasons, has experienced a series of setbacks. His inconsistent performance during IPL 2024 resulted in his exclusion from the playing XI midway through the season. A succession of low scores in the ongoing domestic season also led to him losing his spot in the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team. Furthermore, his complete rejection at the IPL mega auction has pushed his career to the brink of an early conclusion. This represents a significant decline for the 25-year-old, who was, until recently, widely regarded as the ‘next big thing’ in Indian cricket. Shaw gained prominence in November 2013 at the age of 14, when he scored 546 runs for Rizvi Springfield in the Harris Shield, a renowned school cricket competition. At that time, this was the highest score recorded globally in minor cricket. Sachin Tendulkar, India’s most revered cricketer, had retired just a week prior, and Shaw immediately drew comparisons to the legendary player. Tendulkar’s impressive ascent to fame, subsequent to his world record 664-run partnership with Vinod Kambli in a school match in 1987, had motivated numerous batting prodigies, particularly those from Mumbai. Shaw was among these talents. As a compact and robust opening batsman, Shaw lacked the technical finesse that Tendulkar possessed even in his teenage years. However, he displayed an innate talent for timing and attacked bowlers with such flair that selectors were immediately captivated. He was rapidly advanced into first-class cricket, mirroring Tendulkar’s path, by scoring a debut century in both the domestic Ranji and Duleep Trophy, thereby reinforcing the comparisons between them. Towards the end of 2018, he received a Test call-up to play against the West Indies. Shaw scored 134 runs from only 154 balls, featuring powerful drives, cuts, and pulls. He was just under 19 years old. Among Indian cricketers, only Tendulkar had achieved his first Test century at a younger age. Hailed as a fitting successor to Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, Shaw seemed destined for greatness. However, his career has been on a downward trajectory ever since. In the six years following his remarkable debut, he participated in only four additional Tests. Including six ODIs and a single T20i, this still amounts to a disappointing total of international appearances for a batsman whose early talent had suggested a lengthy and brilliant career. A regrettable foot injury, which led to his return from the 2020 tour of Australia, marked the beginning of Shaw’s difficulties. Later that same year, he tested positive for a prohibited substance and received a lenient penalty. Subsequently, his batting performance began a consistent decline, reaching moments of excellence too rarely to satisfy selectors. Concurrently, reports emerged of Shaw’s involvement in extravagant parties and altercations. By the midpoint of IPL 2024, he was, in effect, under scrutiny. Following the IPL 2025 mega auction, his career appears to be shrouded in uncertainty. While injury, illness, and subpar performance can impede even top athletes, individuals close to Shaw indicate that adverse luck has contributed only minimally to his current precarious decline. Ricky Ponting, who collaborated closely with Shaw as Delhi Capitals coach, stated: “There’s only so much [advice] you can give and only so many times you can try [to sort him out] .” Praveen Amre, a former India batsman and assistant coach for Delhi Capitals, was more explicit. Amre informed a national daily, “Prithvi’s inability to handle IPL fame and money has been his undoing. I’ve talked to him several times, giving him the example of Vinod Kambli who frittered away his career for the lack of discipline.’’ The IPL has transformed the lives of young players, providing both a stage for their abilities and a means of income. Nevertheless, the difficulties associated with early achievements, immediate recognition, and quick financial gain persist. Rahul Dravid, leveraging his background as a coach for U-19 and India A teams, has highlighted the necessity for enhanced junior-level mentorship to guide players effectively. Shaw’s current difficulties emphasize the relevance of Dravid’s perspective. Only time will reveal what the future holds for Shaw. At 25 years old, he still possesses youth. However, Indian cricket boasts an abundance of talent, and competition for team spots is fierce. The journey ahead is challenging. Former England captain Kevin Pietersen posted on X: “Some of the greatest sports stories are comeback stories, If Prithvi Shaw has decent people around him who care about his long term success, they’d sit him down, tell him to get off social media & train his absolute backside off in getting super fit. It’ll get him back into the correct path where past success can return. Too talented to throw it all away.” The implication for Shaw is unambiguous: his opportunity for redemption rests with him.