'Duck' for Prithvi Shaw on Ranji debut for Maharashtra

When Prithvi Shaw walked out to bat for Maharashtra in their Ranji Trophy opener against Kerala, the youngster would have hoped for a better start after making his move away from the Mumbai team.

However, the 25-year-old opening batsman, who last represented India in 2021, was dismissed for a duck after facing just four deliveries in the first over. 

The youngster, who has been in the spotlight over disciplinary and fitness issues, was hoping to use his stint with Maharashtra to fight his way back into the Indian team. However, Kerala — last season’s finalists — dismissed him before he could even get off the mark, with M D Nidheesh claiming his wicket.

Shaw, once regarded as the future of Indian cricket, has now become a forgotten star. His stint with the Mumbai Ranji team failed to deliver the success he had hoped for, and he was sidelined amid a series of issues surrounding him. In the recently concluded Indian Premier League season, no franchise showed interest, leaving him unsold at the auction.

But the swashbuckling opener does not hold any grudges; he has taken responsibility for everything that went right or wrong with his life. "I am mentally strong and intelligent. I am responsible, no one else. If I was distracted, that's on me, and if I reached here, that too is on me. I don't want to blame anyone," he said in an interview to News24 Sports. 

Shaw said that his move to Maharashtra is a new beginning for him. "At this stage of my career, I believe joining the Maharashtra team will help me grow further as a cricketer. I am deeply grateful to the Mumbai Cricket Association for the opportunities and support I have received over the years," Shaw said.