The upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy set to commence on December 21 has raised questions surrounding the omission of Prithvi Shaw from the Mumbai setup. The decision to leave out the talented but inconsistent right-handed batter appears to be linked to more than just him being out of form. Several reports state that his exclusion was informed by concerns about his fitness and discipline.
Fitness And Disciplinary Gaffes
Shaw reportedly of late has had issues with discipline which has affected his game negatively. In some reports, it was claimed that Shaw was missing training and had an unhealthy lifestyle. There are allegations that he was coming back to the team hotels around 6 AM and was out of the hotel most of the time during the night. Such behavior raised eyebrows in the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), who noted his pattern of not adhering to expectations set by them.
Shaw Responds To Criticism With A Cryptic Instagram Post
In response to the allegations and his exclusion from the squad, Shaw posted a cryptic message on Instagram: “If you don’t understand it fully, don’t speak on it. Too many people have full opinions, with half the facts. Friyay.” The message seemed to be his way of addressing the critics without directly engaging in a back-and-forth.
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MCA’s Take On Shaw’s Behavior
A senior MCA official did not mince words when talking about Shaw’s exclusion. The official stated that the 25-year-old batter had often “disregarded disciplinary guidelines” and was “his own enemy.” They even mentioned that there had been instances where the team had to “hide” Shaw on the field due to his poor fitness and questionable attitude, reflecting the severity of the issues at hand.
Frustration After Exclusion From The Vijay Hazare Squad
Shaw was understandably frustrated after being left out of the 16-man squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy. A few days ago, he had shared his disappointment in a viral post on social media, especially after being a part of Mumbai’s victorious Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign earlier this year. His exclusion was seen as another setback in a year filled with challenges for the young batter.
Struggles In IPL And The Road Ahead
It has been a difficult year for Shaw in terms of his cricket career. In the 2024 IPL season, he had a lackluster performance, scoring just 198 runs from eight matches at an average of 24.75. Worse still, Shaw was not retained by Delhi Capitals for the 2025 IPL season and, despite his potential, failed to attract any bids during the mega auction.
Having been out of India’s playing XI since July 2021, Shaw is now at a crucial juncture in his career. He will need to reflect on his approach, work on his fitness, and correct his attitude if he hopes to return to the national team and revive his cricketing career.
