Prithvi Shaw Opens Up: ‘I’ve Stopped Going Out; It’s Just Me, My Family and Cricket Now’

Prithvi Shaw Opens Up on His Comeback Mission: ‘It’s Me, My Cricket and My Family’

Prithvi Shaw appears determined to turn a difficult phase of his career into a fresh beginning. Leading Maharashtra in their Ranji Trophy 2026-27 opener against Services at Palam, the 26-year-old looked energetic, confident and fully involved in the game. From making tactical decisions on the field to encouraging his teammates, Shaw appeared to be enjoying his cricket again.

Maharashtra secured a convincing victory after bowling Services out for 120 while defending a target of 248. Shaw contributed a quickfire 70 in the first innings, while veteran batter Ankit Bawne played a crucial role with a century followed by 48 runs in the second innings.

Beyond the result, however, Shaw’s performance offered a glimpse into his changing approach to life and cricket. Away from the ground, the former India opener is deliberately keeping things simple, prioritising his family, his profession and his personal space.

“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.

Prithvi Shaw Explains Why He Has Stopped Going Out

Once a regular subject of public attention, Shaw now prefers to stay away from unnecessary publicity. He said the presence of paparazzi and cameras during his personal time has made him less comfortable with going out.

“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.

Shaw emphasised that he values his privacy and does not want his personal life to become a constant subject of public discussion.

“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.”

Instead of social outings, the cricketer is increasingly comfortable spending time in his hotel room. Netflix and his PlayStation provide entertainment when he is not training or playing matches.

His gaming routine even includes a humorous way of dealing with disappointing performances on the field.

“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 with a laugh.

“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 Career at a Crossroads

Shaw’s journey has been closely followed since his teenage years. He shot to national prominence after scoring 546 runs in a Harris Shield school cricket match in Mumbai. In 2018, he captained India to the Under-19 World Cup title before making an immediate impression in international cricket with a century on his Test debut against the West Indies.

His early achievements raised expectations that he would become a mainstay of the Indian batting order. However, his international career did not progress as anticipated.

Shaw has played five Tests, six ODIs and one T20I for India. His last international appearance came against Sri Lanka in July 2021.

In the years that followed, injuries, inconsistent performances and questions about his fitness and discipline complicated his progress. In October 2024, Mumbai dropped him from their Ranji Trophy squad amid reported concerns over fitness and discipline.

His difficulties continued when he went unsold at the IPL 2025 mega auction after Delhi Capitals released him. The outcome marked a significant setback for a player who had once been regarded as one of India’s most promising young batters.

Greg Chappell’s Advice and Shaw’s New Perspective

During this difficult period, former India coach Greg Chappell wrote Shaw a letter encouraging him to learn from his setbacks and concentrate on rebuilding his career.

Chappell, who had seen Shaw’s potential during his Under-19 days, reminded him that rejection and disappointment are part of a professional cricketer’s journey. The message was clear: past setbacks need not determine what happens next.

Shaw now appears increasingly focused on that philosophy, choosing not to dwell on criticism or past disappointments.

“I feel that comments from outside do not really matter to me. 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,” he said.

Acknowledging that nobody is perfect, Shaw added that he no longer wants to remain stuck in the past.

“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 is also adjusting to the changing dynamics of domestic cricket. Having spent years in the game, he now finds himself sharing dressing rooms with younger players who are beginning their professional journeys.

Although he sometimes feels older when he sees 18-year-olds competing, he recognises that he still has considerable time to achieve his ambitions.

“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.

Maharashtra Has Given Shaw a Fresh Start

Moving away from Mumbai, the state team he had represented throughout much of his career, was another major transition. Shaw joined Maharashtra seeking a new environment and an opportunity to rebuild his form.

The adjustment has been smoother than he expected, partly because he already knew several people within 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 during the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season offered encouragement. Shaw scored 537 runs in seven matches, including a blistering 222 off 156 balls against Chandigarh.

That form helped him return to the IPL, with Delhi Capitals bringing him back for the 2026 season. However, he did not get an opportunity to play during the campaign.

The challenge now is to maintain consistency and make his performances impossible to ignore. With competition for opening positions in Indian cricket remaining intense, Shaw understands that his comeback will require sustained effort rather than isolated successes.

“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.

Shaw’s Message to Young Cricketers

As captain, Shaw is also taking on greater responsibility for guiding younger players. He believes that every member of a team deserves equal respect, regardless of age or experience.

“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 playing at the domestic level brings the same fundamental challenges for everyone, requiring commitment, resilience and the ability to handle pressure.

Shaw does not believe in dictating how younger players should live their lives. Instead, he wants them to understand the importance of balancing enjoyment with professional responsibility.

“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.”

‘It Is Me Versus Me’: Shaw’s India Dream Remains Alive

Despite the setbacks, Shaw’s ultimate ambition remains unchanged: returning to the Indian team.

His absence from international cricket has stretched beyond five years, and the competition for places has grown considerably. To earn another opportunity, he will need to demonstrate sustained form and consistency in domestic cricket.

Nevertheless, Shaw insists that his desire to represent India continues to motivate him.

“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 appears intent on concentrating on what he can control: his preparation, performances, fitness and work ethic. He is also trying to establish healthier boundaries between his public profile and private life.

His immediate routine is straightforward: spend time with teammates, work hard at cricket and return to his room for some gaming when the day’s responsibilities are complete.

“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.”

For Shaw, the road back to Indian cricket remains challenging, but his latest comments suggest that he is determined to approach it on his own terms, with less attention to outside opinions and greater emphasis on the work required to make a comeback.