Having Seen Many Ups and Downs, Prithvi Shaw Doesn’t Mind “Starting from Scratch” Following Century on Maharashtra Debut

Prithvi Shaw spoke about his smooth transition to Maharashtra from Mumbai, noting that he shares a strong bond with his new teammates.

Having Seen Many Ups and Downs, Prithvi Shaw Doesn’t Mind “Starting from Scratch” Following Century on Maharashtra Debut

Prithvi Shaw intends to 'start from scratch', after scoring a hundred on Maharashtra debut. (via Indian Express)

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Out-of-favor Indian opener Prithvi Shaw most recently stated he is willing to start his cricketing career from ‘scratch’ once again. The 25-year-old opened up about the ups and downs of his journey over the years after scoring a century on his debut for Maharashtra.

Prithvi Shaw’s debut for Maharashtra in the Buchi Babu Invitational Trophy marks a new beginning for the young Indian opener, whose career has seen both success and significant setbacks. After leading the Indian U-19 team to World Cup glory in 2018, he quickly made his way into the senior national team that same year. He went on to make 11 appearances for India, scoring over 500 runs.

Shaw’s impressive performances for Mumbai in domestic cricket and for the Delhi Capitals in the IPL led many to call him the next ‘big thing’ in Indian cricket. However, a string of disappointing performances, coupled with major controversies, including a six-month ban for a doping violation and a public brawl outside a Mumbai club, caused his career trajectory to fall, and he lost his place in the national team.

Last year, he was dropped from Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy squad due to fitness and disciplinary issues, and even failed to find a buyer in the 2025 IPL season auction. However, the 25-year-old made a big move earlier this year, deciding to restart his career with a new domestic side, Maharashtra. Making his debut in the Buchi Babu Trophy in Tamil Nadu, he scored a brilliant 111 runs from 141 balls, including 15 fours and a six, against Chhattisgarh in a Group A fixture.

Speaking after the match, Prithvi Shaw, who had previously mentioned that no Indian player had reached out to help him, said that he does not want anyone’s sympathy. Beaming with confidence, Shaw admitted he is ready to ‘start from scratch’ and work his way back up, reflecting on the hardships he has faced. The 25-year-old expressed belief in his work ethic, and predicted a successful domestic season for himself:

Don’t want anyone’s sympathy. I don’t mind coming from scratch again because I’ve seen many ups and downs in my life. So, everything is possible, I feel.

Furthermore, Prithvi Shaw expressed confidence in his current approach to the game, stating that it has worked for him in the past, from his under-19 days to his time with the national team. Having worked hard over the past few months, particularly on his physical issues, the ex-Mumbai star added that he feels he has not ‘lost in life’, and talked about the support he has received from his family and coach, Prashant Shetty. 

I don’t want to change anything. I just went back to basics, doing things that I used to do in Under-19 days, which got me to the Indian team, just doing all the stuff back again, practicing more, gym, running.

Prithvi Shaw also stated his intention to stay away from all distractions, including social media, and focus on training more. For the 25-year-old opener, the goal now is to perform well in domestic cricket to earn a recall to the Indian team in the future.

Prithvi Shaw’s Career Throughout the Years: A Look at the Highs

A talented opening batter, Prithvi Shaw has experienced a career of many highs and lows but is still determined to make a fresh start at the age of just 25. The former Mumbai opener played for the Indian national team from 2018 to 2021, across all formats.

Prithvi Shaw career
Prithvi Shaw has seen a lot of highs and lows throughout his career. (via NDTV Sports)

He made his Test debut for India in October 2018, becoming the youngest cricketer to score a century in his maiden Test match for the country. In five Test matches, he scored 339 runs at an average of 42.37, with one hundred and two fifties. Two years later, Shaw made his ODI debut against New Zealand. In the six matches he played afterwards, he scored 189 runs at an average of 31.50.

In the IPL, Prithvi Shaw was bought by the Delhi Capitals before the 2018 season for INR 1.2 crore, and he then broke the record for becoming the youngest player to open the batting. In 79 IPL matches until 2024, Shaw scored 1,892 runs at an average of 23.94, hitting 13 fifties.

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