Remember Prithvi Shaw? The boy wonder who smashed a century on his Test debut, drawing comparisons to Sachin Tendulkar. The question on every Indian cricket fan's mind is: what happened to the player once destined for greatness?
The Prodigy from Mumbai
From a young age, Prithvi
Shaw was marked for greatness. He burst onto the scene as a 14-year-old with a staggering 546 in a Harris Shield school match, a record that immediately put him in the same breath as Mumbai's other famous prodigy, Sachin Tendulkar. The comparisons didn't stop there. Shaw went on to score centuries on his Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy debuts, a feat only previously achieved by Tendulkar. In 2018, he captained India to victory at the Under-19 Cricket World Cup, further cementing his status as the country's most exciting young talent. His aggressive, front-foot style of play was electrifying, and it seemed only a matter of time before he would dominate on the world stage.
A Debut for the Ages
On October 4, 2018, the hype became reality. At just 18 years and 329 days old, Shaw made his Test debut against the West Indies. He played with an audacity and confidence that belied his age, racing to a century in just 99 balls. He became the youngest Indian to score a hundred on Test debut and was named Player of the Series. The cricket world was captivated. Former players and pundits declared the arrival of India's next superstar. His career had launched in the most spectacular fashion imaginable, and the future seemed limitless.
The Unravelling Begins
Almost as quickly as it began, the dream started to sour. A promising tour of Australia was cut short by an ankle injury before it even began. This was followed by a more significant blow. In July 2019, the BCCI handed Shaw a back-dated eight-month suspension for a doping violation. He had inadvertently ingested Terbutaline, a substance commonly found in cough syrups. While the board accepted his explanation that it was not for performance-enhancing purposes, the incident raised questions about his professionalism and cast a shadow over his young career.
Fitness, Form, and Fierce Competition
Since his return, Shaw's journey has been a frustrating mix of brief flashes of brilliance and prolonged struggles with consistency and fitness. He failed a yo-yo test at the National Cricket Academy in 2022, and reports of indiscipline and a casual approach to training have persistently followed him. His form in the IPL has been erratic, with seasons of high strike rates undone by periods of low scores. This inconsistency, coupled with offfield controversies, has seen him fall down the pecking order. In his absence, other talented young openers like Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal have seized their opportunities, making the path back to the national team increasingly difficult for Shaw. His last appearance for India was in July 2021.
Despite the setbacks, Shaw is still only 26 years old as of late 2026. He has shown glimpses of his talent in domestic cricket, including scoring a monumental 379 in a Ranji Trophy match in 2023. After being dropped by Mumbai and even going unsold in an IPL auction, he has sought a fresh start with the Maharashtra team and was bought back by the Delhi Capitals. In recent interviews, Shaw has spoken about working harder than ever and adopting a more focused lifestyle, determined to make a comeback. The talent that once mesmerized a nation is undoubtedly still there. The question remains whether he can channel it with the discipline and consistency required to reclaim his spot and fulfil his early promise.
