Prithvi Shaw Acknowledges Career Stumbles, Blames Poor Choices and Loss of Focus

Once hailed as a future star of Indian cricket, Prithvi Shaw has candidly addressed the challenges that have stalled his once-promising career.

Prithvi Shaw (Agency Photo)

In a recent interview, the 25-year-old cricketer admitted that poor decisions, distractions, and a change in priorities contributed to his decline both on and off the field.

"There are a lot of things. It is different for people to see. Because I know what has happened. I can understand it. I have taken a lot of wrong decisions in life. I started giving less time to cricket. I used to practice a lot. For example, I used to bat for 3-4 hours in nets. I never got tired of batting. I used to go to the ground for half a day. I admit that there was a distraction," Shaw told News24.

He further elaborated, "After that, I started considering what was not necessary as necessary. I made some wrong friends. Because I was at the top at that time. Friendship is also formed. Then they took me here and there. All those things. Then I got away from the track. I used to give 8 hours of practice on the ground. Now it is 4 hours."

Shaw made a memorable Test debut in 2018, scoring a century against the West Indies. This performance led to comparisons to legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag. However, a lack of discipline and fitness caused him to lose his place in the team.

From being dropped by Mumbai due to fitness concerns to going unsold in the IPL 2025 auction, his downfall has been very public.

Now, the right-handed opener is determined to start afresh.

Shaw has officially left the Mumbai Cricket Association and will be representing Maharashtra as a professional player. In his letter to the MCA, Shaw expressed his gratitude for their support but stated that he believes this move is essential for his growth.

Although he made brief comebacks, including a stint in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, consistent performances have remained elusive.

With a new state team, a renewed mindset, and a willingness to acknowledge his past mistakes, Prithvi Shaw is hoping to turn things around. Whether this marks the start of a successful comeback or a continued decline remains to be seen, but he is currently focused on working his way back to the top.