Indian cricketer Prithvi Shaw received a significant boost on Sunday as the Delhi Capitals retained him ahead of the IPL 2024 auctions. There have been extensive speculations about his future in recent days. The news is likely to uplift Prithvi’s spirits, who has seen a decline in his standing within the Indian team due to both off-field and on-field issues.
It’s noteworthy that Prithvi Shaw entered Indian cricket at the tender age of 14, accomplishing a remarkable feat with 546 runs in Mumbai’s Harris Shield. This outstanding performance was subsequently complemented by impressive innings, including centuries in his debut matches in the 2016-17 Ranji Trophy and the 2017 Duleep Trophy.
Following this accomplishment, Prithvi Shaw became the second debutant batsman to score centuries in both formats, with the legendary Sachin Tendulkar being the first to achieve this feat. His outstanding performance led to substantial comparisons with the little master, establishing him as a promising batting superstar for India’s future.
However, even though he made his international debut at the age of 18, Prithvi Shaw has participated in just 12 games across formats in almost five years. While certain aspects can be attributed to technical shortcomings at the highest level, a significant portion can also be ascribed to disciplinary and fitness issues, along with a few controversies.
Anil Kumble Gave A Stern Warning To Prithvi Shaw After Delhi Capital Retention
On Sunday, after Shaw was given a lifeline by the franchise, Anil Kumble, the former Indian cricketer, emphasized the importance of focusing on fitness for the Mumbai batter to revive his career.
Speaking on Jio Cinema, Anil Kumble said: “He’s still young but he needs to work on his fitness. If Ricky Ponting, Sourav Ganguly, David Warner can’t get him to work on his fitness then it’s a challenge,”
He added: “Prithvi Shaw has to look at his fitness. I think that’s something that is constantly spoken about. It’s not about his cricketing skills. Yes, there might be some chinks in his armour like all batters do. We’ve seen that he’s someone who can take the game away in the T20 format.”
Further, Kumble also compared Shaw to with his contemporary Shubman Gill as both players started their careers together around the same time. But while Gill has already managed to establish himself at the highest stage, Shaw is still struggling with his own set of problems. Comparing the two youngsters, Kumble said:
“This is something that he needs to understand. Players that have played with him have gone ahead . For example Shubman Gill, who is one of India’s best players. A young player who is looking at a future with the team for a long time. And Shaw has missed out on that. So this is simply a make or break season for him,”
