Prithvi Shaw Faces Career Challenges Due To Friend Circle And Personal Choices, Says Coach Santosh Pingulkar

Prithvi Shaw, once a promising cricketer who led India to an Under-19 World Cup win, has seen his career take a challenging turn. Despite his immense talent, Shaw is currently far from being considered for the Indian team. He was also overlooked in the IPL 2025 mega auction. Concerns about his fitness and discipline have been raised, especially after Mumbai excluded him from their Ranji Trophy squad.

Shaw's early cricketing journey was shaped by his childhood coach, Santosh Pingulkar. In an exclusive interview with MyKhel, Pingulkar shared insights into Shaw's beginnings and the hurdles he faces now. Starting at just 3-4 years old, Shaw trained under Pingulkar for over ten years. The coach described Shaw as having a unique style and a friendly nature that set him apart.

Shaw's father played a crucial role in his cricketing path, acting as both parents after Shaw's mother passed away when he was four. His father supported him through every step, from feeding him to carrying his kit during train journeys from Virar to Mumbai. This dedication was pivotal in Shaw's early success.

Despite achieving significant milestones like captaining the U19 team to victory in 2018 and scoring two Test centuries for India, Shaw's career trajectory changed after turning 21. Fame and a change in his social circle contributed to this shift. Coach Pingulkar noted that Shaw moved away from cricket towards the film world, which distracted him from the sport.

Pingulkar acknowledged Shaw's recent struggles, including not being picked for the IPL despite lowering his base price to ₹75 lakhs. However, there are signs of a comeback as Shaw has been included in Mumbai's Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy squad and has shown glimpses of form by scoring 96 runs at a strike rate of 143.

The coach mentioned speaking with Shaw on his birthday, where Shaw admitted past mistakes and expressed a desire to focus on fitness and return to cricket. Despite setbacks, he still visits Virar and maintains that money has never been an issue for him.

The Path Forward

Pingulkar believes that at 25 years old, Shaw still has time to revive his career if he realises the need for change. "We can guide him," Pingulkar said, "but he has to implement the changes in his life and cricket." With determination and focus, Shaw can reclaim his place in Indian cricket.

Shaw's journey underscores both his exceptional talent and the difficulties of managing fame at a young age. With renewed determination, he has every opportunity to make a successful comeback.