Prithvi Shaw Must Focus on Improving His Work Ethics: Shreyas Iyer
Mumbai captain Shreyas Iyer has urged batter Prithvi Shaw to focus on improving his work ethic. Shreyas made these comments after Mumbai won the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on Sunday, December 15, by defeating Madhya Pradesh by 5 wickets.
In his post-match remarks, Shreyas addressed Shaw's difficult season, which was marked by poor form and controversy, leading to his exclusion from the Mumbai team despite winning the Ranji Trophy. Iyer regarded Shaw as a naturally talented player and said that if Shaw applied himself, there is no limit to his potential.
Prithvi Shaw, once a highly sought-after player in Indian cricket, went unsold in the 2024 IPL mega-auction. His poor season in the Ranji Trophy meant he could manage only 59 runs in 4 innings as Mumbai triumphed. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024, Shaw's performance also was not up to the mark, scoring only 197 runs at an average of 21.88, with his only significant contribution being a quickfire 49 off 26 balls in Mumbai's quarterfinal chase against Vidarbha.
"I think, personally, he is a God-gifted player. The amount of talent he possesses as an individual, no one has it. That's true. It's just that he needs to improve his work ethics. And I have said it before as well in many of the interviews. He needs to get his work ethics right. And if he does that, you know, sky is the limit for him. Can you force him to? I can't force him. He has played so much of cricket. And everyone has given him inputs. At the end of the day, it's his job to go out there and figure out things for himself," Shreyas Iyer shared with reporters after Mumbai's victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Mohammed Kaif Criticizes Lack of Interest in Prithvi Shaw at IPL Auction
Former Delhi Capitals assistant coach Mohammed Kaif, who has closely worked with Prithvi Shaw, expressed his disappointment after the batter went unsold in the 2024 IPL auction. According to Kaif, Shaw should feel embarrassed that no franchise showed interest in him.
"Delhi backed Prithvi Shaw a lot. We believed he was a powerplay player who could hit six boundaries in an over, and he did that too, smashing Shivam Mavi for six fours in an over. He had great potential, and we supported him completely. We always thought that if Shaw scored runs, we would win. We gave him plenty of chances," Kaif explained during the IPL auction on Jio Cinema.
He also shared an insight into team selection, saying, "There were times when we’d sit down at night and debate whether Shaw should play because of his poor form. We’d decide not to include him in the playing XI, only to change our minds later, thinking maybe today, if he does well, we could win."
Kaif concluded by saying, "Prithvi got a lot of opportunities, but now teams have moved on. It’s embarrassing that he didn’t get a bid for Rs 75 lakh. Maybe now, he needs to go back to basics. Look at someone like Sarfaraz Khan, who made it to the national team by consistently scoring runs."