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Prithvi Shaw went unsold at the IPL auction recently which was a stark reminder of how his fortunes have taken a massive hit.
Prithvi Shaw failed to find any takers at the recent IPL auction. (PTI Photo)
When Prithvi Shaw captained India to U-19 World Cup title in 2018, it was seen as a natural progression for a batting prodigy who consistently drew comparisons with the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. He was hyped up as the next big thing in Indian cricket with the label “Tendulkar Clone” following him every time he walked out to bat.
His entry to professional cricket justified the hype. A Test debut followed, and he peeled off a brilliant century. Shaw had announced his arrival.
Fast forward to November 2024 and Shaw has failed to find any takers at the IPL mega auction. Having been released by Delhi Capitals before the two-day auction held in Jeddah, Shaw was expected to trigger bidding wars considering his talent but in a surprising turn of events, he went unsold.
It was the latest setback for Shaw whose career seems to have taken a turn for the worse as he often hits the headlines for off-field incidents these days.
Shaw’s first coach Santosh Pingutkar while admitting the 25-year-old’s struggles, adds that age is on his side and there’s plenty of time for him to bounce back.
“He (Shaw) is just 25 years old. He still has age in his hand. He can bounce back with hard work if he wants to sustain in competitive cricket,” Pingutkar told ETV Bharat.
“No doubt, his performance hasn’t been up to the mark in the last 4-5 years. He has also struggled with his form in the ongoing season of the Ranji Trophy, but it hasn’t been so much worse that he will remain unsold. But he should now work hard and return to the Mumbai side,” he added.
Pingutkar claimed that though Shaw still loves cricket, he’s became more involved with activities other than the game.
“Other activities apart from cricket witnessed a rise. He was more involved in his group outside cricket. But no doubt he loves cricket. However, he wasn’t able to convert his love for the game into his efforts. That’s why he is witnessing such a lean phase. He should bounce back as soon as possible. Everyone’s blessings are with him,” Pingutkar said.
