Prithvi Shaw once looked like one of the biggest young talents in Indian cricket. He scored a century on his Test debut, won the Under-19 World Cup, and delivered several strong performances in domestic cricket.
These achievements raised hopes for his future. However, his international career soon lost its way. Questions about his fitness, discipline, and consistency also became a concern.
Now, at 26, Shaw wants to rebuild his career. The Mumbai-born batter recently spoke about his lifestyle, his decision to stay away from unwanted attention, and his biggest goal: returning to the Indian cricket team.
His latest comments come after several difficult years. During this period, he faced a doping suspension, missed chances, reported discipline issues, and an uncertain future in top-level cricket.
Prithvi Shaw Wants to Focus on Cricket and Family
Speaking to India Today, Prithvi Shaw said that he has changed his priorities and is working harder to improve himself. He also said that he has reduced his social media activity and no longer likes going out as much as he did before.
“I am working harder than ever before. Obviously, I am not quite on social media right now. I am just working on myself. Just me, my cricket and my family. Those are the only three things I am focusing on right now. Anything else, I am just trying to ignore or keep aside,” Shaw said.
He also explained why he prefers to stay away from public places. He said that he wants to protect his personal space and does not enjoy having cameras around him during his private time.
“No, no, it is not about that. It is about a lot of these paparazzi people and all. And I just do not like going out anymore.
“I have my personal space, and obviously, you guys know how I am and what I like personally. It is good for other people; someone likes it, someone does not. I do not like cameras around me when I am living my personal life somewhere.”
His comments show that he wants to make some changes to his lifestyle. However, his career has faced other challenges that go beyond public attention.
The Doping Suspension That Interrupted His Career
Prithvi Shaw faced one of his first major setbacks in 2019. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that he had broken an anti-doping rule.
According to the BCCI’s official statement, Shaw’s sample from the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match on February 22, 2019, contained terbutaline, a banned substance. Shaw accepted the violation but explained that he had taken the substance by mistake through an over-the-counter cough syrup. He had used the syrup to treat a respiratory tract infection.
The BCCI accepted his explanation and said that Shaw had not taken the substance to improve his performance. He received an eight-month suspension, which ended on November 15, 2019.
The suspension interrupted Shaw’s career at a time when he was trying to establish himself in international cricket. However, the BCCI described the violation as accidental. Its statement did not suggest that Shaw had deliberately taken a banned substance to improve his performance.
Reported Discipline Issues and Mumbai’s Decision
Prithvi Shaw faced more problems in domestic cricket. In October 2024, Mumbai left him out of their Ranji Trophy squad for a match against Tripura.
The Mumbai Cricket Association did not give a specific reason in its squad announcement. However, ESPNcricinfo and other media reports linked the decision to concerns about his fitness and discipline. Reports also said that Shaw had missed training sessions and needed to improve his fitness. An MCA official told PTI that the association could not make special rules for one player.
This decision was another setback for Shaw. He had already struggled to earn a regular place in India’s international team. His last international match came against Sri Lanka in July 2021.
His IPL career also suffered a major setback. Delhi Capitals released him before the 2025 mega auction, and no team picked him. Delhi later brought him back for the 2026 season. However, according to the supplied report, he did not get a chance to play.
These events do not prove that Shaw had a personal dispute with the BCCI. Instead, they show how difficult it has been for him to return to the Indian team and maintain his place in competitive cricket.
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What Happened in the Viral Car Incident?
Shaw also made headlines after an incident in Mumbai in February 2023. A dispute over selfies outside a hotel became serious, and videos related to the incident spread across social media.
According to a police complaint reported by The Indian Express, Shaw first agreed to take a selfie with people who approached him. However, the situation reportedly became tense when they asked for more pictures. A group was then accused of damaging his car with a baseball bat.
Police registered a case that included allegations of rioting, extortion, and criminal intimidation. They also arrested social media influencer Sapna Gill.
The case later became more complicated when Gill made allegations against Shaw. In June 2023, Mumbai Police told a court that her molestation allegation was false and had no basis. However, in April 2024, a magistrate directed the police to investigate her complaint and submit a report.
The incident attracted a lot of public attention. However, the allegations should not be treated as proof that Shaw did anything wrong. The incident also adds context to his recent comments about wanting more privacy in his personal life.
Can Prithvi Shaw Still Return to Team India?
Despite these problems, Shaw has shown that he can still score runs. During the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, he scored 537 runs in seven matches. This included a 222-run knock off 156 balls against Chandigarh, according to the supplied report.
However, scoring runs in domestic cricket may not be enough to earn an international comeback. Shaw must compete with several other openers and show that he can perform well on a regular basis.
He knows that the challenge is tough. For now, he wants to focus on his game instead of worrying about what people say about him.
“I feel that comments from outside do not really matter to me. What matters is what my family thinks about me and how I am as a person. I know myself and what are the right things to do to achieve a milestone,” he added.
His biggest goal remains the same.
“If that goal were not there, I would not even be playing today. Obviously, the ultimate goal, the biggest goal, is to go back there and return to the Indian team. It is not about proving anything to anyone. It is me versus me. That is it,” Shaw further noted.
Shaw still has time to fight for another chance. However, he needs to turn his renewed focus into regular performances. He must also convince the selectors that he is ready to play international cricket again.
What do you think? Will Prithvi Shaw be able to make a comeback into the Indian team? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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