'I made some wrong friends, lost focus on cricket': Prithvi Shaw makes honest admission
Prithvi Shaw (Agency Photo)
NEW DELHI: Once touted as the next big thing in
Indian cricket
,
Prithvi Shaw
has made a frank and emotional admission about the struggles that have derailed his once-promising career.
In a recent interview, the 25-year-old revealed how poor choices, distractions, and a shift in priorities led to his decline, both on and off the field.
'There are a lot of things. It is different for people to see. Because I know what has happened. I can understand it. I have taken a lot of wrong decisions in life. I started giving less time to cricket. I used to practice a lot. For example, I used to bat for 3-4 hours in nets. I never got tired of batting. I used to go to the ground for half a day. I admit that there was a distraction,' Shaw told News24.
'After that, I started considering what was not necessary as necessary.
I made some wrong friends. Because I was at the top at that time. Friendship is also formed. Then they took me here and there. All those things. Then I got away from the track. I used to give 8 hours of practice on the ground. Now it is 4 hours."
Shaw, who made a dream Test debut in 2018 with a century against the West Indies, quickly rose to fame, even drawing comparisons with the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag.
But over time, lapses in disc
ipl
ine and fitness saw him fall out of favour.
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From being dropped by Mumbai for poor fitness to going unsold in the IPL 2025 auction, the downturn was steep and public.
Poll
What do you think was the biggest factor in Prithvi Shaw's decline?
Poor choices and distractions
Lack of discipline and fitness
Loss of passion for cricket
Now, the right-handed opener is looking to reset.
Shaw has officially parted ways with the Mumbai Cricket Association, seeking a fresh start with Maharashtra as a professional player.
In his letter to the MCA, Shaw expressed gratitude for their support but said he believes a move is necessary for his growth.
While he made brief comebacks, including a stint in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, consistent performances remained elusive.
India Outplayed at Headingley | England Go 1-0 Up in the Series | IND vs ENG 1st Test
With a new state team, a renewed mindset, and honesty about his past missteps, Prithvi Shaw is aiming to turn the page.
Whether this marks the beginning of a redemption arc or a slow fade from top-tier cricket remains to be seen; but for now, he's choosing the hard road back.
Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
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Prithvi Shaw reveals how 'wrong friends' derailed him, and the only Indian cricketer who helped him: 'Started prioritising wrong things
Prithvi Shaw, the 25-year-old cricket prodigy, admitted to past mistakes and spoke about his plan to revive his career with his father's support. read more Prithvi Shaw opened up on the toughest phase of his career as he revealed the reasons behind his downfall. Image: PTI Indian cricketer Prithvi Shaw has admitted that making 'wrong friends' in life has impacted his cricket as he got distracted in life. The 25-year-old batter also name-dropped Rishabh Pant when asked about the teammates who supported him during the tough phase of his career. Once the blue-eyed boy of the Indian cricket team and touted as the heir apparent to Sachin Tendulkar, Prithvi Shaw has endured a heartbreaking downturn in the last few years. The 25-year-old Shaw has not played for India since July 2021 and also went unsold in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction . STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The agony didn't just stop here. Shaw was also dropped by Mumbai from the Ranji Trophy squad as he was accused of lacking fitness due to an extravagant lifestyle. Shaw: 'I made some wrong friends' In an interview with News24 Sports, Shaw revealed how he lost his way at an early age by making some 'wrong decisions'. 'I have taken some wrong decisions in life. I feel that I started giving less time to cricket,' Shaw said. 'I used to spend almost half of my day at the ground till 2023. But after that, I started giving importance to the wrong things. 'I made some wrong friends. At that time, I was at the top and this is the time when you attract a lot of friends. I got off-track and my time at the ground went down from 8 hours to just 4 hours,' Prithvi added. He added that the passing away of his grandfather also impacted him badly. 'There are a lot of things. It's not just that. I had a family problem. My grandfather had passed away. He was very dear to me. There are a lot of things that I can't tell you. But I can feel it.' 'I admit my mistakes. But my dad has always supported me. No matter how bad my time was. He has seen good and bad,' he added. Shaw speaks about Pant's support He also revealed that most of his Team India teammates ignored him during the bad times in his life, except Rishabh Pant. 'Rishabh Pant keeps on contacting me, whenever he feels something is wrong,' Shaw told News24. Prithvi added that he has decided to go back to the basics and put in the same hard work he did in the past, hoping to resurrect his career. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'I am on track now. I have gone back to basics now. The hard work I used to do 5 years ago, I think I have started that routine again. I believe in myself. I don't know how many people believe in me or not. But I believe in myself. I know how to get there. That's why I am doing all this,' said Shaw. 'But one thing that dad has said. Only Prithvi Shaw can bring himself back there. No one else can. So I have left everything,' he added. Meanwhile, Shaw has reportedly been granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC) by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) as he looks to switch his domestic team in the hope of starting afresh.
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