Prithvi Shaw‘s challenges have mounted since being dropped from Mumbai’s Ranji team due to fitness concerns. The 25-year-old went unsold at the IPL 2025 auction. No franchise bid on him, even at his base price of Rs 75 lakh.
Shaw was included in Mumbai’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Tournament squad. In four SMAT 2024 innings, he has recorded two ducks, a score of 23 against Kerala, and 40 against Nagaland.
This performance has sparked discussion about his future and the reasons behind his current struggles.
Former Australian cricketer Shane Watson expressed support for Shaw. He responded to a post by Kevin Pietersen on X.
“I completely agree @KP24. Prithvi is such a precocious talent and these are all that is required for him to turn things around and be one of Indian Cricket’s biggest heroes.”

Former England batter Kevin Pietersen had earlier weighed in on Shaw’s situation, acknowledging his talent. Pietersen suggested Shaw needs to prioritize fitness and reduce social media engagement.
“Some of the greatest sports stories are COMEBACK stories. If Prithvi Shaw has decent people around him who care about his long term success, they’d sit him down, tell him to get off social media & train his absolute backside off in getting super fit. It’ll get him back into the correct path where past success can return. Too talented to throw it all away. Love, KP!,”
Watson’s public support for Shaw is noteworthy. It suggests a belief in Shaw’s potential despite his current form.
Pietersen’s advice to Shaw is direct and practical. He emphasises the importance of fitness and minimising social media distractions.
Pietersen’s suggestion to focus on fitness echoes the reasons behind Shaw’s exclusion from the Ranji team. This highlights the critical role of physical conditioning in professional cricket. His recommendation to reduce social media use suggests that such engagement may be hindering Shaw’s focus and performance.