Prithvi Shaw appears to be entering a new phase of his cricketing career, choosing to focus on his game, family and personal well-being as he works towards a return to the Indian team.
The 26-year-old was in an upbeat mood at Palam while leading Maharashtra in their Ranji Trophy 2026-27 opener against Services in the absence of Ruturaj Gaikwad. Shaw scored a quickfire 70 in the first innings and played an active role as Maharashtra secured a convincing victory, bowling Services out for 120 while defending a target of 248.
However, beyond his performance on the field, Shaw spoke candidly about the changes he has made to his lifestyle, the scrutiny surrounding his career and his determination to reclaim a place in the Indian team.
“I am working harder than ever before. Obviously, I am not quite on social media right now. I am just working on myself. Just me, my cricket and my family. Those are the only three things I am focusing on right now. Anything else, I am just trying to ignore or keep aside,” Shaw said.
‘I Don’t Like Going Out Anymore’
Shaw said he has become increasingly uncomfortable with the attention he receives from paparazzi when he is away from the cricket field. He prefers to keep his personal life private and spend more time in his hotel room.
“No, no, it is not about that. It is about a lot of these paparazzi people and all. And I just do not like going out anymore,” he said.
“I have my personal space, and obviously, you guys know how I am and what I like personally. It is good for other people; someone likes it, someone does not. I do not like cameras around me when I am living my personal life somewhere.”
Away from cricket, Shaw enjoys watching Netflix and playing video games, including GTA, FIFA, Tekken and cricket simulations.
He revealed that playing cricket video games offers him a way to deal with the disappointment of a low score in real life.
“I play GTA, and then I play FIFA, of course. I am very good at FIFA. I play online sometimes. Then I play Tekken. What else do I play? I play cricket as well. I have got my own career mode. I play as myself. If I get out for zero or something low, I go there and score 400 or 500. That is the kind of motivation I get from it. It is fun,” he said.
“When you are in the room, you know, I have stopped going outside. Even if I go out, it is for dinner or something. I like being in the room and playing my PlayStation. Obviously, there is Netflix and all that stuff to watch, so I am enjoying it.”
From Teenage Sensation to a Fight for an India Comeback
Shaw rose to national prominence at just 14 after scoring 546 runs in a Harris Shield school cricket match in Mumbai. Four years later, he captained India to the Under-19 World Cup title in 2018 and made a spectacular start to his Test career with a century on debut against the West Indies in Rajkot.
His early success generated enormous expectations, but his international career stalled. Shaw has played five Tests, six ODIs and one T20I for India, with his last international appearance coming against Sri Lanka in July 2021.
The subsequent years brought periods of promising performances alongside injuries, fitness concerns and questions about discipline. In October 2024, Mumbai dropped him from their Ranji Trophy squad amid reported concerns over fitness and discipline. He was also overlooked by all franchises at the IPL 2025 mega auction after Delhi Capitals released him.
The setbacks marked a difficult period for a player once widely regarded as one of India’s brightest batting prospects.
Greg Chappell’s Advice and a Changed Outlook
Former India coach Greg Chappell wrote to Shaw during this challenging period, encouraging him to learn from setbacks, take responsibility and concentrate on the work required to rebuild his career.
“The past doesn’t define you, Prithvi. It’s what you do from here that matters,” Chappell wrote in a letter reported in November 2024.
Shaw now appears determined to move forward rather than dwell on past disappointments. He said external criticism has become less important to him than the opinions of those closest to him.
“I feel that comments from outside do not really matter to me,” he said.
“What matters is what my family thinks about me and how I am as a person. I know myself and what are the right things to do to achieve a milestone. I might be wrong somewhere, and that is not an issue. No one is correct in this life. A lot of people, including you, might not be correct. Everyone goes through it. It is all about destiny, and I never look at the past anymore.”
At 26, Shaw acknowledges that he still has time to rebuild his career, even as he watches younger players enter the domestic circuit.
“I am young, 100 per cent. But sometimes I see 18-year-olds playing, and I feel quite old right now. But, you know, obviously, I am just 26. It is not going to stop at 26, right? It is going to go on, so you cannot do anything about it. You just have to accept that fact,” he said.
A Fresh Start With Maharashtra
Shaw’s move from Mumbai to Maharashtra represented a significant change after spending much of his cricketing career with his home association. Although changing states was not easy, he said the transition had been smoother than expected because he already knew several people in the setup.
“They have been wonderful. This is my second year, and it has been really nice. They are taking good care of me. Obviously, changing states was not easy for me, but after coming here, it did not feel that way. I already knew a lot of people, so it was easy for me, and I am kind of enjoying it,” he said.
His performances in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season offered encouragement, with Shaw scoring 537 runs in seven matches, including a 222 off 156 balls against Chandigarh.
He subsequently returned to Delhi Capitals for the 2026 IPL season after the franchise bought him at auction, although he did not get an opportunity to play.
Shaw understands that consistent performances in domestic cricket will be essential if he is to re-enter the conversation for India’s opening positions.
“If you want to get to the top, there is a big line of openers waiting to go up, so you have to be consistent enough to be there. I have always seen that my team comes first before I do, and I think that is what makes my consistency level better,” he said.
‘The Kids Are Quite Smart’
As an experienced domestic cricketer, Shaw is increasingly finding himself in a position to guide younger teammates. While leading Maharashtra against Services, he said he did not believe in making a distinction between senior and junior players.
“Maharashtra has a good bunch of kids. It is a mixture of seniors and juniors, but for me, everybody is equal. Before leading the side, I never believed in the senior-junior distinction,” he said.
He added that young players must learn to balance their personal lives with the demands of professional cricket.
“But I will just tell them not to let their work ethic suffer and to make sure they do not start enjoying themselves more than they work. That is the only thing I will say. Otherwise, they can do whatever they want. It is their life. You have one life, so it is fine,” Shaw said.
‘It Is Me Versus Me’
Despite the challenges he has faced, Shaw remains determined to return to international cricket. He recognises the competition for places and the need to produce consistent performances, but said his ambition has not diminished.
“If that goal were not there, I would not even be playing today. Obviously, the ultimate goal, the biggest goal, is to go back there and return to the Indian team. It is not about proving anything to anyone. It is me versus me. That is it,” he said.
For now, Shaw’s priorities are clear: work harder, concentrate on cricket and spend more time with his family. He is also content to keep his evenings simple, away from the cameras and public attention.
“I want to be with my guys, focus on cricket, focus on my work ethic and give more time to cricket. Then I go to the hotel room and play some PS5. That is it,” he said.
With a renewed emphasis on discipline, privacy and consistency, Shaw is looking to make the most of his opportunities in domestic cricket as he pursues his long-term ambition of returning to the Indian team.