India’s cricketer Prithvi Shaw has recently opened up about the challenges he has faced in his career. The young player shared that during these tough times, only Rishabh Pant reached out to support him. Shaw has been experiencing a difficult period, as he was left out of the Mumbai squad for the Ranji Trophy and did not attract any bids in the IPL 2025 auction.
Once seen as a future star akin to Sachin Tendulkar, Shaw’s journey has not gone as expected, leading to his exclusion from the Indian national team in 2021. In a candid moment, he mentioned how Pant has consistently checked in on him, particularly when he senses something might be wrong.
“I get messages from Rishabh whenever he thinks I might need support,” Shaw disclosed in an interview.
Reflecting on his past, Shaw admitted that he made several poor decisions that affected his dedication to cricket. He stated, “I used to spend many hours practicing, sometimes even three to four hours in the nets. I loved it and could spend the whole day on the field. But I got distracted as time went on.”
Shaw acknowledged that he fell into bad company, which diverted his attention from the game. “I started prioritizing things that weren’t essential and made some wrong friendships. Being at the top, I found myself easily influenced. Those distractions took me off course. My practice time dropped from about eight hours to just four,” he explained.
Looking forward, Shaw is eager for a fresh start and has reached out to the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to play for another team in the domestic circuit this season. He has expressed that this move may be beneficial for his growth as a cricketer.
After being dropped from the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team last year due to fitness issues, he made a brief comeback for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy but was left out again for the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
As Shaw embarks on this new journey, fans and supporters will be hopeful that he finds the path back to his best form.
