NEW DELHI: At 26, Prithvi Shaw is determined to rebuild his cricket career by focusing on his game, family and work ethic while staying away from unnecessary distractions.Once regarded as one of India’s brightest batting prospects, Shaw has faced several setbacks in recent years but remains committed to earning another opportunity in the national 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 told India Today.When asked about whether he has grown tired of the off-the-field attention, he replied, “No, no, it is not about that. It is about a lot of these papparazzi people and all. And I just do not like going out anymore.“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.”Shaw rose to national attention as a teenager 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 and made an impressive start to his Test career with a century on debut against the West Indies.However, his international journey lost momentum after early success. He has played five Tests, six ODIs and one T20I for India, with his last international appearance coming against Sri Lanka in July 2021.Questions about his fitness, discipline and consistency, along with injuries, added to the challenges he faced.

Learning from setbacks

Shaw’s difficult period became more evident in 2024 when Mumbai dropped him from their Ranji Trophy squad. He also went unsold at the IPL 2025 mega auction after Delhi Capitals released him.Former India coach Greg Chappell later encouraged him through a letter, reminding him that past disappointments should not determine his future.Shaw now says he is less concerned about outside criticism and more interested in how his family sees him. He has also reduced his public outings, preferring to spend time in his hotel room watching Netflix or playing video games such as FIFA, GTA and Tekken.“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 added.“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.”Despite the setbacks, Shaw showed encouraging form in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, scoring 537 runs in seven matches, including a blistering 222 off 156 balls against Chandigarh. Delhi Capitals also brought him back for the 2026 IPL season, although he did not get an opportunity to play.

India comeback remains ultimate goal

Shaw believes consistency will be crucial to his chances of returning to the national team, especially with several openers competing for places. He also wants to set a positive example for younger cricketers by maintaining strong work habits and putting the team’s needs first.“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 remarked.For Shaw, the ambition to represent India again remains the biggest motivation, despite more than five years away from international cricket.“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,” Shaw further noted.For now, Shaw is choosing to concentrate on improving himself rather than dwelling on past disappointments. His approach is simple: work harder, spend time with loved ones and let his performances speak for themselves.

“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 concluded.