Once hailed as the next big thing in Indian cricket, Prithvi Shaw has found himself at a crossroads in his career. The young batter, who burst onto the scene with a stellar performance in the U-19 World Cup and a century on his Test debut, is now grappling with a series of disappointing performances. His latest outing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2024 saw him getting dismissed for a duck against Services, further fuelling the concerns surrounding his form and fitness.
A spree of disappointing performance by Prithvi Shaw
In the match held on December 3, 2024, Shaw faced just three deliveries before being bowled out by bowler Poonam Poonia without scoring a single run. This dismissal marks another low point in an already tumultuous season for Shaw, who has struggled to convert promising starts into substantial scores. His performances in the tournament have been underwhelming, with scores of 33, 0, 23, 40, and now another duck in five matches. Fans and critics alike took to social media to express their disappointment, with many trolling him for his continued inability to make an impact on the field.
The weight of expectations on Shaw
Shaw’s fall from grace has been exacerbated by off-field controversies and fitness issues. After being dropped from Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy squad due to concerns over his weight—reportedly having around 35% body fat—Shaw’s discipline has come under scrutiny. His childhood coach, Santosh Pingutkar, lamented that Shaw’s focus has shifted away from cricket towards distractions outside of the sport. Despite earning significant sums early in his career, including a lucrative IPL contract with Delhi Capitals, Shaw’s commitment to fitness and performance has faltered.
Shaw’s journey has not been without its share of controversies. From a doping ban that sidelined him for eight months to public altercations and disciplinary issues within teams, his career has been marred by incidents that overshadow his talent. The recent IPL auction saw him go unsold despite registering for a base price of INR 75 lakh, highlighting the growing disinterest from franchises in light of his inconsistent performances and off-field behaviour.
Also READ: Prithvi Shaw’s former coach explains why the explosive batter went unsold in IPL 2025 mega auction
Here’s how Fans reacted:
If Prithvi Shaw makes a comeback from here, then it will be the greatest comeback in the history of cricket. pic.twitter.com/9IwPDtHreN
— R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) December 3, 2024
Prithvi Shaw should be backed and taken care of. He needs proper assistance from his teammates and good guidance from seniors. Good talent should not go to waste.
Mumbai team, other coaching staff should come ahead and help him.
That’s my personal point of view.#CricketTwitter— Sandeep_Arora (@Chote_Sardarji) December 3, 2024
Now you know why Prithvi Shaw got unsold in this IPL Season 😅 pic.twitter.com/ST0014mfci
— Sachiin Ramdas Suryavanshi (@sachiinv7) December 3, 2024
I genuinely feel sad for the Prithvi Shaw downfall.I have rated him so high when I saw him.He was generational talent but wasted completely. pic.twitter.com/9WnOFpStwQ
— Sujeet Suman (@sujeetsuman1991) December 3, 2024
Prithvi Shaw in SMAT 2024 so far
33(22)
0(3)
23(13)
40(29)
0(3)What happened to him🥲.
Hope he makes a comeback soon.#SMAT #SMAT2024— Nick (@ni_ck_s7) December 3, 2024
Prithvi Shaw has the potential to lead India. Fitness, intent and runs are all on point.
— pseudoengineer (@pseudoer) December 3, 2024
Ek vakt tha jab sab log baat karte the prithvi shaw ki, aaj koi puchta bhi nhi hai 💔 https://t.co/DpPp3QlwGp pic.twitter.com/acBcEiZTad
— walter white 🌿 (@WorldCup_2k26) December 3, 2024
Prithvi Shaw has officially become Rcom. https://t.co/jWdG74yIAg
— Baibhav Mishra (@mishra_baibhav) December 3, 2024
Prithvi Shaw’s career = IPO with dhamaka listing, but no returns later.
Bhai, talent toh tha, par focus aur discipline ke bina portfolio ho ya career, dono lag jaate hain! https://t.co/sYAOHU1GQC— Shiv Pandey (@pandeyshivv) December 3, 2024
Prithvi Shaw is a walking wicket for any bowler
— Mukesh Bishnoi (@mukeshbishnoi_1) December 3, 2024
Duck again!! 💔🦆
Prithvi Shaw is dismissed for a 3- ball duck against Services in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Things are not going great for Shaw. 🥲#PrithviShaw #SMAT #SMAT2024 pic.twitter.com/axDik7UD3t
— Saabir Zafar (@Saabir_Saabu01) December 3, 2024
Also READ: Best playing XI of unsold players from the IPL 2025 mega auction ft. Prithvi Shaw
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