File photo: Prithvi Shaw scored a century in his first game for Maharashtra • PTI
Prithvi Shaw is preparing to "start from the scratch again" and revive his career with his new domestic team Maharashtra. He took his first step towards that with an aggressive century on his Maharashtra debut on a Chennai turner, which also offered variable bounce to spinners, against Chhattisgarh in the pre-season Buchi Babu tournament.
"I don't mind starting from scratch again because I've seen many ups and downs in my life," Shaw said after stumps on day two. "And I've been up there, I've been down there, and I've come back up there. So, everything is possible, I feel. I'm kind of a very confident guy, confident in myself and my work ethics. I feel and I hope that this season will go really well for me as well as for my new team."
Shaw had been dropped from Mumbai's Ranji Trophy side last year due to poor fitness and lack of discipline, and had also gone unsold in the IPL 2025 auction. Ahead of the new domestic season, Shaw said that he had worked hard on his fitness, and even had his diet monitored.
"I mean, these two-three months [before the season] I had my trainer [working with me]," he said. "He used to come personally to train me. And I've got a dietitian as well, and he gives me the meals [plan] and everything - like what a dietitian does. So, all this stuff in three-four months has really changed me physically and mentally as well. And, you know, it can be seen on the field."
After having a good workout in the field on the opening day, when he took three catches, Shaw raced to 111 off 141 balls, including smashing 15 fours and a six, on the second. The other ten Maharashtra batters managed 92 runs on a surface that was misbehaving on Tuesday. Shaw, however, continued to bat with attacking intent.
By the time his opening partner Sachin Dhas got off the mark off the 25th ball he faced, Shaw had run away to 30 off 23 deliveries. But once Maharashtra lost four wickets in quick succession, including that of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shaw had to temper his natural instincts before he took the attack to the Chhattisgarh bowlers once again.
After moving from 91 to 97 with a down-the-track straight six off legspinner Shubham Agrawal, Shaw brought up his maiden hundred for Maharashtra with a more gentle tap to midwicket. When Shaw advanced at Agrawal once again, the ball turned and shot low, resulting in the batter being stumped.
"I feel it [my approach] depended on the scoreboard," Shaw said. "Obviously, we're four wickets down for 17 [after an opening stand of 71]. We had a good opening partnership, but when wickets were falling, I had to be patient enough to take the game away from them, which I was trying my best [to do]. And the wicket [in Chennai] is obviously good for spinners.
"It [the pitch] is turning, bouncing and [there are] a lot of patches on the wicket. So, I tried my best to just be over there and try to [make] some scores. It feels really nice [to score a hundred], especially because I'm playing my first game for Maharashtra. It feels nice; it's been long, and I haven't played a three-day or four-day game [recently]."
Shaw said that he used to be someone who would think far ahead, but in the lead-up to the new domestic season, he wanted to just focus on the present and not burden himself with too many thoughts.
"Before it was for me, like I was trying to think bahut aage ka," Shaw said. "So, I don't think it worked for me. What I'm trying to do now is going day-by-day - whatever I have [as] my schedule plan when I'm playing a match or when I'm not playing matches. "So, I've got a schedule plan. I'm focusing day-by-day. I don't want to see what happens after a month or two days. I try to be in the present. I'm that kind of a person right now."
"Obviously, my family has been a big support in my tough times, and my coach Prashant Shetty [as well]. So, there's a lot of support behind me, and I don't want to make them feel that I'm not trying hard enough"
Prithvi Shaw
Shaw said switching off from social media, and support from his family and his childhood coach Prashant Shetty have helped him ride the lows and stay balanced.
"Just trying to be myself, and not really trying to be on social media or anything - those kind of distractions which I really don't like because nowadays social media and all those stuff, it's quite bad, I would say," he said. "So, I don't really [want to] be on social media and stuff. It's kind of peaceful when I'm not using it.
"And I think the lesson always is: 'I've never lost'. It's always about learning for me. And like I said before, I'm confident enough in myself [regarding] who I am. Obviously, my family has been a big support in my tough times, and my coach Prashant Shetty [as well]. So, there's a lot of support behind me, and I don't want to make them feel that I'm not trying hard enough."
Shaw suggested that his transition from Mumbai to Maharashtra has been smooth, thanks to his familiarity with players such as captain Ankit Bawne, Gaikwad (who have played with him for India A) and wristspinner Prashant Solanki, who was Shaw's former team-mate at Mumbai.
"Mumbai is not that far away from Maharashtra," Shaw said. "I mean, half of the team I know. I mean, obviously, I've played with Rutu, [and] Ankit; Mukesh [Choudhary] is there. Prashant Solanki and few other players are there. I just got to know a few youngsters. You know, Arshin [Kulkarni], Sachin Dhas and everyone. They have been really nice and welcoming to me."