Once Compared With Sachin, Now The Biggest Failure In Indian Cricket

Once hailed as the next big thing in Indian cricket and often compared to the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, Prithvi Shaw’s journey has turned into one of the most disappointing stories in recent times.

From captaining India to a U-19 World Cup win and scoring a century on Test debut, Shaw had everything — talent, timing, and technique.

Yet, as of today, he finds himself far away from the Indian team setup, struggling to even make an impact in domestic and IPL cricket.

Many cricket fans now question how such a bright prospect fell so fast. While BCCI continues to show interest in several new faces, Shaw’s name has slowly faded away from the national conversation, much like Sarfaraz Khan, another domestic giant who’s been repeatedly ignored by selectors.

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The Rise of Prithvi Shaw: A Promising Start

Prithvi Shaw burst onto the scene as a teenage sensation from Mumbai, often called “the next Sachin Tendulkar” for his compact technique and fearless batting style.

• U-19 World Cup 2018: As India’s captain, Shaw led the side to victory, cementing his reputation as a future star.
• Test Debut (2018 vs West Indies): Shaw scored a brilliant 134 runs in his very first Test innings, becoming the youngest Indian to score a debut century at just 18.
• IPL Success: Shaw showed flashes of brilliance for Delhi Capitals, often providing explosive starts alongside Shikhar Dhawan and later David Warner.

It seemed like India had found its next long-term opener — a modern-day prodigy with the flair of Sehwag and the composure of Tendulkar.

The Fall: Injuries, Discipline, and Lost Form

Unfortunately, Shaw’s graph started declining rapidly after his early success.

1. Injuries and Fitness Issues:
   His recurring injuries, especially the ankle injury in 2018, halted his momentum just as his career was taking off.
2. Disciplinary Concerns:
   Reports of attitude and fitness problems began surfacing. Shaw was even suspended for a doping violation in 2019, which damaged his reputation.
3. Inconsistent IPL Performances:
   Despite occasional good knocks, Shaw struggled with consistency in the IPL. His inability to play the moving ball and poor shot selection became a recurring problem.
4. BCCI’s Lack of Faith:
   The selectors gradually lost patience. Despite good domestic performances, Shaw was ignored for national selection — just like Sarfaraz Khan, who has been scoring heavily in the Ranji Trophy but remains on the sidelines.

Prithvi Shaw’s Stats Summary

Format	Matches	Runs	Average	Strike Rate	100s/50s	Highest Score
Test	5	339	42.37	86.04	1/2	134
ODI	6	189	31.50	113.63	0/1	49
T20I	1	0	0.00	0.00	0/0	0
IPL	79	1797	23.96	146.42	0/13	99
First-Class (FC)	45	4000+	52.00+	–	12/18	202*

Stats updated as per available records till 2025.

Why BCCI Seems Uninterested in Shaw (and Sarfaraz Khan)

There’s a growing belief among fans that BCCI has lost interest in players like Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan despite their domestic dominance.

• Preference for Younger Prospects: Players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill have been prioritized due to their consistency, discipline, and fitness.
• Attitude Matters: The management prefers players who show maturity and commitment on and off the field. Shaw’s image, often associated with controversies, hasn’t helped.
• Injury and Form Concerns: Shaw’s patchy form, coupled with long injury layoffs, have kept him out of serious contention.
• No Clear Comeback Path: Even after returning to fitness and form, Shaw hasn’t been given a consistent run, showing that BCCI might have moved on.

Public Reaction: From Hope to Disappointment

Cricket fans who once called him “Mini Sachin” now criticize his lack of hunger. Social media often trends with hashtags demanding his comeback, but performances speak louder than words — and Shaw’s numbers haven’t done enough talking lately.

His story stands as a reminder that talent alone doesn’t guarantee success at the international level. Dedication, discipline, and consistency are equally important.

Can Prithvi Shaw Make a Comeback?

All is not lost. At 25, Shaw still has time to rebuild his career. With his natural stroke play and experience, a strong domestic season could open doors again.

However, he must regain the trust of selectors through performances and professionalism — both of which seem to be missing lately.

If he focuses on fitness, consistency, and mental strength, Shaw can still rewrite his story. But as things stand, his name remains in the long list of “what could have been” talents in Indian cricket.

Conclusion

Prithvi Shaw’s journey from “India’s next big thing” to “the forgotten star” is both heartbreaking and cautionary.

Compared once with Sachin Tendulkar, he now finds himself struggling for relevance. The same BCCI that once hyped him now looks away, just as it has with Sarfaraz Khan.

Unless Shaw transforms his attitude, fitness, and consistency, his story will serve as one of Indian cricket’s greatest disappointments — a reminder that early success can vanish just as quickly as it arrives.

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