Indian cricketer Prithvi Shaw, once hailed as a prodigy and the next big thing in Indian cricket, has finally opened up about the most difficult phase of his career. In a recent interview with News24, the 25-year-old revealed that it was Rishabh Pant—his long-time friend and teammate—who stood by him when he was going through personal and professional setbacks.
Prithvi Shaw IPL 2025 Setback and Domestic Omission
Prithvi Shaw IPL 2025 hopes took a massive hit when the explosive opener went unsold in the IPL 2025 mega auction, a shock for many considering his early-career promise and dynamic playing style. Adding to his woes, Shaw was dropped from Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy squad in 2024, further pushing him out of India’s cricketing spotlight.
The young batter, who once captained the Under-19 Prithvi Shaw team to a World Cup title in 2018 and debuted for India with a century, has been away from the national team since 2021.
Rishabh Pant Only One to Check on Me, Says Shaw
Shaw, who has largely kept a low profile over the last year, candidly revealed that Rishabh Pant was the only one from the cricketing world who consistently checked on him.
“Rishabh Pant keeps on contacting me, whenever he feels something is wrong. He’s been there during the lowest points in my life, when nobody else even reached out.”
The Prithvi Shaw–Rishabh Pant friendship dates back to their early U-19 and India A days, and the bond continues to stay strong even as their career trajectories have diverged.
“I Took the Wrong Path”: Prithvi Shaw Admits to Losing Focus
Reflecting on his decline, Prithvi Shaw confessed to making poor life decisions that impacted his cricket.
“I made some bad decisions. I started giving less time to cricket. Earlier I used to bat for 3–4 hours in the nets, but I lost that hunger for a while.”
He acknowledged that during his rise to fame, he got involved with the wrong circle of friends, which led him to lose focus.
“When you’re at the top, a lot of people want to be around you. I fell into that trap. I started going places and doing things I shouldn’t have. Slowly, I got distracted from my training and practice routines.”
What’s Next for Prithvi Shaw?
- Prithvi Shaw age: 25 years (as of 2025)
Latest team: Not part of the current Indian squad or an IPL Team
Recent leagues: Participated in T20 Mumbai League and other domestic tournaments
Prithvi Shaw stats: 339 runs in 5 Tests | 189 runs in 6 ODIs | 1,500+ IPL runs
While Shaw may not be part of the India national cricket team at the moment, he remains determined to make a comeback. He continues to train in Mumbai and is expected to feature in the next domestic season, possibly eyeing a return via the T20 Mumbai League or India A circuit.
Final Word
The Prithvi Shaw news has once again put the spotlight on how promising careers can veer off track due to external influences and personal distractions. But with players like Rishabh Pant standing by him and Shaw himself acknowledging his mistakes, there’s still hope for a turnaround.
As the IPL 2026 auction and domestic season approach, fans will be watching closely to see if Prithvi Shaw IPL return becomes a reality.
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