‘I’m tired of going out’: Prithvi Shaw opens up about life and his aim to return to India

NEW DELHI: At 26, Prithvi Shaw is determined to revive his cricket career by focusing on his playing, family and work ethic while avoiding unnecessary distractions.Once regarded as one of India’s brightest batting prospects, Shaw has faced several setbacks in recent years but remains determined to get another opportunity in the national team.“I’m working harder than ever. Obviously now I’m not on social media as much. I’m just working on myself. Just me, my cricket and my family. Those are the only three things I’m focused on now. Anything else I just try to ignore or keep away,” Shaw told India Today.When asked if he was tired of the attention off the field, he said: “No, no, it’s not about that. It’s about a lot of these papparazzi and everything. And I just don’t like going out anymore.”“I have my personal space and of course you know how I am and what I personally like. It’s good for others, some like it, some don’t. I don’t like cameras around me when I’m living my personal life somewhere.”Shaw gained national attention as a teenager after scoring 546 runs in a Harris Shield school cricket match in Mumbai.He led India to the Under-19 World Cup in 2018 and made an impressive start to his Test career with a century on debut against the West Indies.However, his international journey lost steam after his early success. He played five Tests, six ODIs and one T20I for India, with his last international appearance coming against Sri Lanka in July 2021.Questions over his fitness, discipline and consistency along with injuries have added to the challenges he has faced.

Learning from failure

Shaw’s tough spell was more pronounced in 2024 when Mumbai dropped him from the Ranji Trophy team. He also went unsold in the IPL 2025 mega auction after being released by Delhi Capitals.Former India coach Greg Chappell later encouraged him through a letter, reminding him that past disappointments should not dictate his future.Shaw now says he cares less about outside criticism and more about how his family sees him. He has also cut back on public outings and prefers to spend time in his hotel room watching Netflix or playing video games such as FIFA, GTA and Tekken.“I feel like outside comments really don’t matter to me. What’s important is what my family thinks of me and what I’m like as a person. I know myself and what’s the right thing to do to reach the milestone,” he added.“Maybe I’m wrong somewhere, and that’s not a problem. No one in this life is right. A lot of people, including you, may not be right. Everyone goes through it. It’s all about fate, and I never look back.”Despite the setbacks, Shaw has shown encouraging form in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy, scoring 537 runs in seven matches, including an incredible 222 off 156 balls against Chandigarh. Delhi Capitals also brought him back for the 2026 IPL season, though he did not get an opportunity to play.

The ultimate goal remains the return of India

Shaw believes consistency will be crucial to his chances of returning to the national team, especially with several starters vying for a spot. He also wants to set a positive example for younger cricketers by maintaining strong work habits and putting the needs of the team first.“If you want to go up, there’s a lot of openers waiting to step up, so you have to be consistent enough to be there. I’ve always seen my team come first before me and I think that’s what improves my level of consistency,” he noted.For Shaw, the ambition to represent India again remains the biggest motivation, despite more than five years away from international cricket.“If that goal wasn’t there, I wouldn’t be playing today. Obviously, the ultimate goal, the biggest goal, is to get back there and get back into the Indian team. It’s not about proving anything to anybody. It’s me against me. That’s it,” Shaw further noted.For now, Shaw has decided to focus on improving himself rather than dwelling on past disappointments. His approach is simple: work harder, spend time with loved ones and let his performance speak for itself.“I want to be with my boys, focus on cricket, focus on my work ethic and spend more time on cricket. Then I go to my hotel room and play some PS5. That’s it,” he concluded.