Once hailed as Tendulkar’s successor, a batsman who seemed to be fading into oblivion has begun his comeback battle anew.
Prithvi Shaw’s name now resonates in Indian cricket as a symbol of resurgence. Once considered the future of Indian batting, and often called the ‘new Tendulkar,’ this batsman had been sinking in the tides of time. By joining a new team, he is striving to break through the darkness and step back into the light. In his own words, it’s “starting from zero.” Right at the start of this journey, he announced his determination with a brilliant century on a turning pitch.
After losing his spot in the Mumbai team, Prithvi recently joined Maharashtra. In his first match for the new team, he gifted a century. Against Chhattisgarh in the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament, he scored 111 off 141 balls.
The innings was exceptional given the conditions. Other batsmen struggled on Chennai’s turning and uneven wicket, and the remaining 10 Maharashtra batsmen collectively managed just 92 runs!
After such an outstanding performance, the opener spoke to the media, showing his strong belief in his comeback:
“Starting again from zero is not a problem for me. I’ve seen many ups and downs in life. I’ve reached the top, fallen, and returned before. I feel everything is still possible. I’m a very confident person; I trust myself and my work. I hope—and I can feel—that this new season will be good for me and my team.”
It may sound like the words of someone much older with life experience, but he is only 25. Yet, he has already walked many paths in life. For those who follow cricket, his story is well known.
From age-group cricket, his name became a household one. Known as the ‘new Tendulkar,’ his physique, style, and performance drew comparisons with the legend. Just like Tendulkar, he shone in school cricket, dominated age-group cricket, and impressed in first-class matches, quickly making his way into the Test team.
His breakthrough came at just 14, scoring a record 546 off 330 balls in school cricket. He continued to shine in age-group cricket, winning the Youth Asia Cup for India.
In the Ranji Trophy semi-final against Tamil Nadu, he scored a brilliant century while chasing in the fourth innings, taking Mumbai to the final at just 17. Later that year, he became the youngest to score a Duleep Trophy century, breaking Tendulkar’s record.
He led India to victory in the U-19 World Cup, scoring 261 runs at an average of 65.25. During the tournament, Delhi Daredevils bought him for ₹1.2 crore in the IPL auction. His fearless batting impressed all, including coach Ricky Ponting.
He progressed through India ‘A’ team performances to the Test squad. On his Test debut in Rajkot against the West Indies in 2018, he scored 134 off 154 balls, becoming India’s youngest Test centurion.
Despite such a dream start, his international career stalled at just 5 Tests, 6 ODIs, and 1 T20, with his last appearance for India four years ago.
In recent years, he frequently made headlines for the wrong reasons. Fame, pressure, and expectations overwhelmed him. Fitness and discipline issues affected his performance across formats. Several times, reports suggested he was trying to make a comeback but stumbled again.
In October, he was dropped from the Mumbai state team due to fitness and behavioral concerns. His last recognized match was in December during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he failed to make an impact for Mumbai.
Dropped from Mumbai, he faced another struggle for existence. Maharashtra gave him a new opportunity. Clinging to this chance, he is striving to stay afloat, and this century could be a significant boost.
Though the Buchi Babu Tournament is technically a pre-season event, it’s prestigious and competitive, with India’s top players using it to fine-tune for the season.
Prithvi’s innings against Chhattisgarh showed his familiar aggressive style. By the time his opening partner Sachin Das scored his first run off 25 balls, Prithvi had already made 30 off 23 balls, and reached fifty in sync with the scoring rate.
After a 71-run opening stand, Maharashtra lost wickets quickly, but Prithvi kept pushing, crossing a century in the face of the opposition’s surge. He hit 15 fours and 1 six, scoring 111 out of the team’s 166 runs.
Prithvi insists he is rebuilding himself in this comeback journey:
“For the past two to three months, a trainer has been working with me personally. A dietitian is also guiding me with food and other plans. These months have transformed me physically and mentally. You’ll see that even off the field.”
“I used to think too far ahead, which didn’t work for me. Now I approach each day individually, focusing on the schedule in front of me, whether I’m playing a match or not. That’s how I’m moving forward. I’m trying to live in the present. That’s the person I am now.”
