Young Indian opener Prithvi Shaw’s childhood coach, Jwala Singh, expressed disappointment over the cricketer’s struggles over the past few years. Jwala Singh stated that Prithvi Shaw was compared to Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar, adding that it saddens him to see the Indian player’s struggles.
Shaw was touted as the next great batting talent for India but has faced a sudden decline in his career. The right-handed batter went unsold at the recently concluded IPL 2025 mega auction. He failed to attract bids from ten franchises despite a base price of Rs 75 lakh.
Prithvi Shaw Was My First Student Who Played U19 World Cup – Jwala Singh
Jwala Singh highlighted Prithvi Shaw’s promising start, including a century on Test debut, but noted recent setbacks such as being dropped in Ranji and going unsold in the IPL. Singh admitted it saddens him to witness Shaw’s struggles despite his advice and guidance.
“See, it feels disappointing. Prithvi was my first student who played U19 World Cup. The way he started his career, he played Test cricket and scored a century on debut, was man of the series too… the way he started, he was named the next Sachin,” said Singh.
“Many experts were comparing him. Now, he’s getting dropped in Ranji, getting unsold in IPL. It saddens me to see him struggle like that. I advised him a lot as a coach, but to see him like this, it’s surprising,” he added.
Anyone Can Be Influenced by Money – Jwala Singh
Jwala Singh said Prithvi Shaw’s struggles are due to the influence of money and the distractions of IPL fame. He emphasized the importance of resisting temptations and maintaining focus on cricket. Jwala stated that Shaw hasn’t upgraded his game since the U19 World Cup.
“Anyone can be influenced by money. We are all human beings. But how you keep track after the money comes is what matters. You need to remain focused on cricket, your work ethic shouldn’t be compromised. You have to develop your game. If you see Prithvi Shaw’s game, he is still similar to how he was in the U19 World Cup. He still struggles with the pull shot. He didn’t upgrade his game. You need to respect a good bowler, but he didn’t adapt.
“Because of IPL, the people who come from humble backgrounds, you get these temptations. You have this phase for 3-4 years, and someone who escapes this phase will succeed. Prithvi hasn’t understood it yet. You have a whole life to enjoy,” said Jwala.
Prithvi Shaw Representing Mumbai in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
Prithvi Shaw made an impressive start to his international career, scoring 134 runs on his Test debut against the West Indies in 2018. However, he struggled to secure a permanent spot in the national team as other players like Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal overtook him in the selection pecking order.
Shaw is currently playing for Mumbai in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and has scored 179 runs at an average of 25.57. He scored 49 runs off just 26 balls in the quarter-final against Vidarbha on December 11. Shaw will next be seen in action for Mumbai in their semi-final against Baroda on December 13.
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