The intriguing situation surrounding Prithvi Shaw continues to generate significant discussion. The circumstances leading to the decline of the 25-year-old, once heralded as a prodigious talent in Indian cricket, remain unclear. Shaw first garnered attention in 2018 when he played a pivotal role in securing the U19 World Cup, showcasing his remarkable abilities. Former India head coach Ravi Shastri notably commented that Shaw's playing style embodies elements of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, and Brian Lara.

Despite a promising start with a century on his Test debut for India, Shaw's career has largely been characterized by missed opportunities. He has participated in only 12 international matches for the national team, and recently, he has been excluded from Mumbai's squad for the initial three fixtures of the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy.

This decision follows a similar outcome in the Ranji Trophy, indicating a troubling trend for Shaw. After a period of silence, he addressed the ongoing issues surrounding his career, publicly sharing his List-A statistics and expressing, "I'm not good enough."

Conversely, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) holds a different perspective on the matter. The management is unequivocal in its belief that Shaw must improve his fitness and discipline. 

"There are concerns regarding his fitness, but performance is also lacking at this time. He must focus on enhancing his fitness, discipline, and overall performance. The primary issue is fitness. Observing his physical condition during matches makes the fitness concerns evident to all," a source from the MCA conveyed to Hindustan Times.

Shaw's recent performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy was disappointing. Although Mumbai triumphed over Madhya Pradesh in the final, Shaw's individual contribution was minimal, accumulating fewer than 200 runs across nine innings, with an average below 25. He frequently struggled against the new ball, further complicating his situation.

Shaw goes unsold in IPL auction

Last month, Shaw remained unsold during the recent Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. His name was mentioned twice, yet there were no bidders for the young opening batsman.

Previously, Shaw experienced a lackluster IPL 2024 season with the Delhi Capitals, even being excluded from the playing XI for several matches. Ricky Ponting, the head coach of the Delhi Capitals for IPL 2024, expressed his concerns regarding Shaw's work ethic, indicating a loss of faith in the player.

"I prefer not to discuss individual players, but Prithvi should not be an exception. He possesses the talent to be a first-choice player in most teams. He has already had the opportunity to represent India at a young age, scoring a century on his Test debut," Ponting stated in an interview with Cricbuzz.

"As you mentioned, by the midpoint of this season, we were unable to find a place for him in our DC lineup. This is disappointing for me as a coach, as I strive to enhance the abilities of certain players and maximize their potential. However, there are limits to what can be done and how many times one can attempt to effect change," he added.

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