Prithvi Shaw, once hailed as one of India’s most promising young cricketers, has been left out of the Mumbai squad for the upcoming Ranji Trophy matches.
The decision was not officially explained in the Mumbai Cricket Association’s media release, but is believed to be related to Shaw’s ongoing fitness and discipline issues.
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The 24-year-old opener, known for his powerful strokes, is facing a new challenge in his cricketing career. The exclusion appears to serve as a wake-up call for Shaw, who has struggled to maintain discipline and attend practices regularly.
Why was Prithvi Shaw left out of the Mumbai squad?
The selection committee in Mumbai, headed by Sanjay Patil, decided to drop Shaw from the team. No official reason has been given, but Cricbuzz’s sources within the MCA suggest it was due to concerns about Shaw’s fitness and participation in irregular practice sessions.
The young cricketer reportedly missed multiple net sessions, sometimes twice per session, even after appearing cheaply in matches. In contrast, other experienced players like Shreyas Iyer, Shardul Thakur and Ajinkya Rahane continue to practice consistently.
Shaw’s fitness was also a concern for team management. He is said to be overweight and does not take net practice seriously.
Prithvi Shaw is an amazing talent. I hope he sees things positively and does his best to return to the team and score a lot of points. Some test stars were also dropped. It’s Bombay’s cricket culture. He should respect the 176-year history of Bombay cricket.
— Makarand Waingankar (@wmakarand) October 22, 2024
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These factors, coupled with his inconsistent performances in the current Ranji season, likely contributed to his exclusion. In the two matches played so far, Shaw had disappointing scores of 7 and 12 against Baroda and 1 and 39 against Maharashtra.
This isn’t the first time Shaw has faced setbacks due to off-field issues. Despite a promising start to his career, including a century on debut in Test cricket, disciplinary concerns marred his progress.
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His absence from the team is seen by many as a subtle warning from the selectors and management, who hope to encourage Shaw to improve his approach to the game.
The young opener is currently at a crucial stage in his career. It remains to be seen whether this setback will motivate the show to address these issues and come back stronger. Let’s take a look at the team as Mumbai is scheduled to take on Tripura in their next match against Ranji.
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Mumbai national team in Ranji Trophy
Ajinkya Rahane (Captain) Ayush Matru Ankrish Raghuvanshiakhil Kherwadkarshreyas Aiyasiddhesh Radsuriyanshu Shedji Hardik Tamoa (Week) Siddhant Addatrao (Week) Shams Mulanikarsh Kotarihimanshu Singhaldul Thakurmohit Avastimovd. Juned Khan Royston Dias.
