Prithvi Shaw once looked like one of the brightest young stars in Indian cricket. His fearless batting and quick scoring made him a player many believed would dominate international cricket for years.
However, his journey has not been smooth. After early success, Shaw faced several challenges that slowed his progress. Now, with IPL 2026 approaching, he is aiming for a strong comeback and a fresh start with Delhi Capitals.
The upcoming season could become an important turning point in his career.
Shaw’s Early Promise and Rise
Prithvi Shaw gained attention very early in his career. He captained India to victory in the 2018 Under-19 World Cup, which made him one of the most talked-about young cricketers in the country.
After that success, many experts believed he would quickly become a regular member of the Indian national team. His attacking batting style and ability to score quickly made him a natural fit for T20 cricket and the IPL.
Shaw began his IPL journey with Delhi Capitals in 2018 and played for the franchise until 2024.
Difficult Years and Challenges
Despite his early promise, Shaw struggled to maintain consistent performance over the years. While several of his Under-19 teammates went on to achieve major success, Shaw found it difficult to reach the same level.
Players from the same group, such as Shubman Gill, Arshdeep Singh, Abhishek Sharma, and Riyan Parag, became key names in Indian cricket and the IPL.
For Shaw, however, the journey included several setbacks.
Major Challenges in Shaw’s Career
| Challenge | Details |
|---|---|
| Doping suspension | A suspension in 2019 interrupted his early momentum. |
| Discipline concerns | Reports mentioned issues like late arrivals for training sessions. |
| Fitness issues | Shaw struggled to meet modern fitness standards in Indian cricket. |
| Yo-Yo test failure | He failed the Yo-Yo fitness test in 2022. |
| Technical issues | Bowlers exposed weaknesses against incoming deliveries. |
These problems slowly affected his form and confidence.
Delhi Capitals Release Shaw
Prithvi Shaw played for Delhi Capitals from 2018 to 2024. During that time, he had several impressive innings but also struggled for consistency.
In his final two seasons with the team, Shaw’s performances were below expectations. Across 16 innings during that period, he scored just over 300 runs.
Because of these struggles, Delhi Capitals eventually decided to release him. The team management, including head coach Ricky Ponting at the time, felt that Shaw had not developed as expected.
Shaw’s Mindset for a Comeback
As IPL 2026 approaches, Shaw has spoken openly about his desire to rebuild his career.
He says he has worked hard during the break and focused on improving both his training and mental strength.
According to Shaw, the goal is clear: return to form and eventually play for India again.
He explained that taking a short break from the game helped him reset mentally. During that time, he continued practicing and working on his batting in the nets.
Shaw believes the extra preparation will help him perform better in the upcoming season.
Prithvi Shaw IPL Career Stats
The table below shows Shaw’s IPL performance across different seasons.
| Season | Innings | 50s | 4s / 6s | Highest Score | Runs | Average | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 9 | 2 | 27 / 10 | 65 | 245 | 27.22 | 153.1 |
| 2019 | 16 | 2 | 45 / 9 | 99 | 353 | 22.06 | 133.7 |
| 2020 | 13 | 2 | 27 / 8 | 66 | 228 | 17.54 | 136.5 |
| 2021 | 15 | 4 | 56 / 18 | 82 | 479 | 31.93 | 159.1 |
| 2022 | 10 | 2 | 37 / 10 | 61 | 283 | 28.30 | 152.9 |
| 2023 | 8 | 1 | 16 / 1 | 54 | 106 | 13.25 | 124.7 |
| 2024 | 8 | 1 | 30 / 5 | 66 | 198 | 24.75 | 163.6 |
| Overall | 79 | 14 | 238 / 61 | 99 | 1892 | 23.95 | 147.4 |
These numbers show that Shaw has had moments of strong performance but has also struggled with consistency in recent seasons.
IPL 2026 could be a crucial season for Prithvi Shaw. A strong performance would help him rebuild his reputation and show that he still has the talent to succeed at the highest level.
For Delhi Capitals, Shaw’s return to form would add valuable strength to their batting lineup.
Fans will be watching closely to see whether Shaw can turn this opportunity into a successful comeback.
