Prithvi Shaw's exclusion from Vijay Hazare, Mumbai Cricket Association reveals the truth
Xtra Time Web Desk: The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has strongly countered Prithvi Shaw's recent social media outburst over his exclusion from the Vijay Hazare Trophy squad, citing the batter’s recurring disciplinary breaches and fitness concerns. Labeling Shaw "his own enemy," an MCA official highlighted the player’s deteriorating fitness, which reportedly hampered Mumbai’s campaign during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
“His fitness issues were so glaring that we had to strategically hide him on the field,” the official told PTI anonymously. “The ball would pass near him, and he’d barely make an effort. Even with the bat, he struggled to time the ball effectively. We cannot have separate standards for different players.”
Read More: BGT 2024-25: Find with whom Justin Langer compares Jasprit Bumrah!
Off-field concerns deepen
The official's comments weren’t limited to Shaw’s on-field struggles. Allegations of missed training sessions and frequent late returns to the team hotel have fueled frustrations among teammates. Senior players have now begun to voice their displeasure over Shaw’s conduct.
The decision to omit Shaw from the 16-member Vijay Hazare squad comes despite his participation in Mumbai’s title-winning Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign. Shaw’s cryptic social media post expressing disappointment, however, has failed to influence the MCA.“Selectors won’t be swayed by sympathy on social media,” the official asserted. “Shaw needs to focus on his game, not on public displays of grievance.”
Captain Shreyas Iyer offers tough love
Shaw’s teammate and Mumbai captain, Shreyas Iyer, echoed the need for self-accountability following Mumbai’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy triumph. “He needs to get his work ethic right. If he does, the sky's the limit,” Iyer stated. “We can’t babysit anyone. It’s his responsibility to figure things out for himself.”
Read More: BGT 2024-25: What makes Ravichandran Ashwin stand out, Ravi Shastri describes!
A faltering career
Once hailed as Indian cricket's next big star, Shaw’s journey has been marked by unfulfilled potential. A stunning Test debut in 2018, where he scored a century against the West Indies at just 18, seemed to herald a promising future. However, inconsistency and controversies have since derailed his trajectory.
The opener has played just four additional Tests, the last in 2020, with his white-ball appearances for India also drying up by 2021. Dropped from Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy squad in October, Shaw was assigned a fitness program at the MCA Academy—a regime he reportedly failed to adhere to.
Adding to his woes, Shaw went unsold at the IPL 2024 auction despite a modest base price of ₹75 lakh. This marked yet another setback for the once-celebrated prodigy.
A path to redemption
The cricketing community has expressed disappointment at Shaw’s inability to harness his immense talent. Summarizing the prevailing sentiment, the MCA official remarked, “No one is Shaw’s enemy. He is his own enemy.”
