On Monday, July 7, the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) released an official statement confirming the inclusion of the young batsman Prithvi Shaw to the Maharashtra Cricket Team.
Prithvi Shaw also expressed delight over the significant move in his career and stated that the new stint with the Team Maharashtra team will help him grow further as a cricketer.
Prithvi Shaw received NOC from Mumbai on June 23
On June 23, the Mumbai Cricket Association granted the No Objection Certificate (NOC) to Prithvi Shaw to leave Mumbai after the 25-year-old expressed his desire to join another state team.
Shaw’s Mumbai exit was brewing for months, as last year, the Mumbai selectors dropped him from the Ranji Trophy squad due to poor fitness and didn’t consider him for the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Shaw was told by the Mumbai selectors to work on his fitness, and when the batter showed no improvements, the decision was made to keep him away from the team.
Notably, Prithvi Shaw is currently going through a rough patch in his career as he is nowhere near the national setup and has also lost his IPL contract. The young batter would he hoping to relaunch his career with his stint with Maharashtra and get back on track.
I believe joining the Maharashtra team will help me grow further as a cricketer – Prithvi Shaw
In an official statement released by the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA), Prithiv Shaw said:
“At this stage of my career, I believe joining the Maharashtra team will help me grow further as a cricketer. I am deeply grateful to the Mumbai Cricket Association for the opportunities and support I have received over the years.
“Maharashtra Cricket Association has made remarkable efforts in recent years to enhance cricketing infrastructure across the state. Initiatives like the Maharashtra Premier League, Women’s MPL, Corporate Shield, and D.B. Deodhar Tournament are testament to their vision.”
Prithvi Shaw added that joining Team Maharashtra will have a positive impact on his career and expressed his excitement over playing alongside Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ankit Bawne, Rahul Tripathi, Rajneesh Gurbani, and others.
“I’m confident that being part of such a progressive setup will positively impact my journey as a cricketer. I’m happy to get the opportunity to play alongside talented players like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ankit Bawne, Rahul Tripathi, Rajneesh Gurbani, and Mukesh Choudhary in the Maharashtra team,” Shaw said.
Shaw’s international and IPL experience will be invaluable – Rohit Pawar
Meanwhile, MCA President Rohit Pawar said that the addition of Shaw to Maharashtra will further strengthen the team, and the 25-year-old can share his experience with the younger players in the squad. He said:
“We are delighted to welcome a player of Prithvi Shaw’s calibre to the Maharashtra team. His inclusion adds tremendous strength to an already talented squad comprising experienced players like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ankit Bawne, Rahul Tripathi, Mukesh Choudhary, and Rajneesh Gurbani.
“Shaw’s international and IPL experience will be invaluable, especially for mentoring younger players in the squad. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the MCA Apex Council and the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) for supporting this decision. Maharashtra Cricket Association stands firmly behind Prithvi in his new journey, and we wish him the very best for the seasons ahead.”
Overall, Shaw has played 5 Tests, 6 ODIs, and 1 T20I for India, scoring 339 runs in red-ball cricket, 189 runs in 50-over cricket, and a duck in his only 20-over game.