Tanay Tiwari Explores Prithvi Shaw’s Fall from Grace: From Rising Star to Fading Hope

Anchor and writer Tanay Tiwari recently shed light on the tumultuous journey of Prithvi Shaw, once hailed as India’s next cricket superstar.

Speaking on a podcast with Raj Shamani, Tiwari pointed out factors that may have contributed to the dramatic decline of the 25-year-old, who had a promising start in Indian cricket but is now struggling to find his place.

Once celebrated for leading India to victory in the 2018 U19 World Cup and scoring runs in the IPL, Shaw’s early accomplishments marked him as a future star.

His Test debut century against the West Indies added to the excitement surrounding his potential. However, according to Tiwari, something went wrong along the way.

“Somewhere between that World Cup and now, he just lost track. I don’t know where, what. I don’t claim to know him. But he just fell downhill. The body started showing signs – he is not as fit as he was. He made his debut before all three, scored a century on debut. And the kind of talent that he was Shubman Gill, Arshdeep Singh and Riyan Parag are looking at him saying ‘Dekh yaar, kitna aage nikal gaya’,” Tiwari said.

Signs of Decline: Fitness and Performance

Tiwari emphasized how Shaw’s physical condition and match performance have dipped over time, despite his natural ability remaining intact.

“It’s very difficult to put a finger on it. What you can see is that the runs dropped, the fitness dropped. Skill hasn’t gone anywhere. That doesn’t vanish like that. God gifted him with it, and he honed and nurtured it for years.

Something happened in this interim. But it just started showing. Even within the camp, you heard reports that he is not attending fielding practice, not doing what the team demanded of it. But I really wish he comes back. He still has time. Get up, do it,” he added.

The Fall From Being the ‘Next Sachin’

There was a time when Prithvi Shaw’s name was taken in the same breath as Sachin Tendulkar. He became the youngest Indian to score a Test century on debut at nearly 19 years of age, becoming only the second after Tendulkar to achieve such a feat.

His leadership in India’s 2018 U19 World Cup win only cemented his status as a rising star.

At the time, Shaw’s future appeared secure. However, while other young talents like Shubman Gill, now vice-captain of the Indian team, Arshdeep Singh, a leading T20 bowler, and Riyan Parag, the captain of Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025, have advanced significantly in their careers, Shaw’s progress has stalled.

Comparisons with Vinod Kambli’s Career

With his current career arc, many have begun comparing Shaw to former India batter Vinod Kambli.

Despite a brilliant start and undeniable skill, Kambli’s career fizzled due to various issues. Tiwari acknowledged the striking similarity between their journeys and hoped Shaw would not meet the same fate.

“Pretty similar trajectories. I hope he doesn’t go down that road. I hope he stages a comeback. But what happened with him [Vinod Kambli], a lot of people draw parallels because he and Sachin were both very talented,” Tiwari noted.

Hard Work vs Talent: A Lesson from the Past

Although both Kambli and Shaw had immense talent, their careers serve as a reminder that talent alone may not be enough. Tiwari reiterated that hard work is essential to sustaining success in international cricket.

“I can’t claim to say that I have seen him batting because I was growing up. But I have heard, and I have seen clips; very talented and very skilled. Everyone said that Sachin was the hardworking one and Kambli had all the talent, but in the longer one, hard work beats talent,” Tiwari concluded.

The Road Ahead for Shaw

At just 25, Prithvi Shaw still has time to make a comeback if he focuses on discipline and fitness. The cricketing community and his fans continue to hope he can reclaim his lost form and fulfill the promise he once showed.