Prithvi Shaw got distracted due to his filmy friend circle, childhood coach reveals

Mumbai opener Prithvi Shaw, once considered the next big thing in Indian cricket, has seen his career fall despite a solid start. The 25-year-old, who led India to victory in the 2018 Under-19 World Cup and scored a Test century on debut at 19, is now struggling for form and opportunities.

His childhood coach, Santosh Pingulkar, recently opened up on the factors that led to Shaw's decline, mentioning the role of his social circle rather than financial distractions. Shaw's cricketing journey began at the age of three or four, under the guidance of Pingulkar, who trained him for over a decade. The coach reflected on Shaw's talent, pointing out his natural flair for the game. 

"He was different from the beginning. Neither his father nor his mother played cricket, but Prithvi had God's gift. His style, whether it was defending or hitting shots, was unique. He had a friendly nature and stood out among others," Pingulkar said exclusively in an interview with My Khel.

His father sacrificed a lot to ensure Prithvi's success: Santosh Pingulkar

Under Pingulkar’s mentorship, Shaw moved to the Mumbai Cricket Association’s senior practice sessions by 14. He captained India to an Under-19 World Cup victory and made a brilliant start to his international career. However, the brilliance soon gave way to setbacks, including injuries, a doping ban in 2019, and inconsistent performances.

"He was with me for 14 years, and even after moving to MCA, he would come to practice once or twice a week whenever he had time. His mother passed away when he was just four years old. His father took care of everything-feeding him, taking him to practice, and even carrying his kit bag during train journeys from Virar to Mumbai. He sacrificed a lot to ensure Prithvi's success," he added.

Also Read: 'One jolt he needed' - DC owner Parth Jindal on Prithvi Shaw's IPL snub

According to the coach, fame brought a change in Shaw's social circle, which distracted him from the game. Shaw's childhood coach explained that he hasn't lost his love for the game but the other factors around it led to the decline. The batter’s exclusion from the IPL 2025 auction, despite lowering his base price to INR 75 lakh, grabbed the headlines. However, Pingulkar refused financial reasons as a cause of Shaw’s struggles.

"Fame played a big role [behind 's declination]. His friend circle changed. He moved away from the cricketing world and got involved in the filmy world. His friends were not from a cricketing background and couldn't guide him back to focus on cricket. He didn't lose love for the game, but his time and attention got diverted. Injuries and a ban further distanced him from cricket. I wasn't surprised when he wasn't picked for the IPL this year. He even reduced his base price to ₹75 lakhs, but it was unfortunate that he wasn't selected," Pingulkar further added.

Meanwhile, Shaw hasn't performed well in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. In the last five games, he has recorded two ducks and hasn't converted any of his starts to big scores.