Prithvi Shaw is his own enemy: Mumbai Cricket breaks silence on Vijay Hazare snub

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has dismissed Prithvi Shaw’s dramatic outburst following his withdrawal from the Vijay Hazare Trophy squad, claiming.

That the volatile batter has repeatedly violated disciplinary guidelines and is “his own enemy”. The official revealed that Shaw’s fitness issues were so significant during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy that the team was “forced to hide” him on the field.

“The ball would pass near him, and he would barely make an effort to reach it,” the official said, speaking anonymously to the news agency PTI. “Even while batting, he struggled to reach the ball. His fitness, discipline, and attitude are lacking, and we cannot have different rules for different players.”

The concerns extended beyond his on-field performance, as Shaw reportedly missed training sessions and frequently returned to the team hotel at odd hours. These behaviors have led to mounting frustration among senior team members, who have begun voicing their displeasure.

Prithvi Shaw, excluded from the 16-member Vijay Hazare squad despite being part of Mumbai’s title-winning Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign, took to social media to express his disappointment. However, the MCA official dismissed the impact of such posts, emphasizing that the selectors’ decisions would not be influenced by public sentiment. “Social media posts will not sway the Mumbai selectors or the MCA. Shaw needs to focus on his game, not on gaining sympathy,” the official remarked.

Shaw’s teammate and Mumbai captain Shreyas Iyer also addressed the issue, offering blunt advice following Mumbai’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy victory. “He needs to get his work ethics right. If he does, the sky’s the limit for him,” Iyer said. “We can’t babysit anyone. At the end of the day, it’s his responsibility to figure things out for himself.”

Prithvi burst onto the cricket scene with a remarkable Test debut in 2018, scoring a century against the West Indies at just 18 years old. However, his career trajectory has since faltered. Shaw has played only four additional Tests, the last of which was in 2020. His ODI and T20I appearances have also been sparse, with no international white-ball games since 2021.

Off-field controversies and inconsistent performances have overshadowed Shaw’s talent. In October, he was dropped from Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy squad and assigned a fitness program at the MCA Academy, which he allegedly failed to follow diligently.

Adding to the woes, Shaw went unsold at the IPL auction despite setting a modest base price of Rs 75 lakh. This marked another blow for the player once hailed Indian cricket’s next big star.

The cricketing community has expressed disappointment at Prithvi Shaw’s inability to capitalise on his potential. “No one is Shaw’s enemy. He is his own enemy,” the MCA official concluded, summarising the sentiment surrounding the player.

For Shaw, the path to redemption lies in introspection, improved fitness, and a renewed commitment to his craft. Only then can he hope to revive his career and fulfil the promise he once showed.