The gentle morning sun, a chilled breeze, and a typical day in the Ranji Trophy. But at Chandigarh's Sector-16 stadium, something extraordinary unfolded. A career was reborn- a player the world had almost forgotten, was on the field to reclaim his identity.
Prithvi Shaw, once dubbed the future of Indian cricket, had receded into the shadows. Questions arose about his fitness, discussions ensued about his discipline, his form faltered... and slowly, everything seemed to be slipping away. Exit from the Mumbai team, unsold in the IPL 2025 auction, a flood of criticism on social media - it appeared that his story had reached its end.
But on a Monday morning, in the same Ranji Trophy, with the same bat, Prithvi Shaw reminded everyone that the fire still burns bright. A sun buried beneath ashes was ready to shine once more.
Playing for Maharashtra, Prithvi Shaw's innings was not just about runs - it was a saga of confidence and rebirth. After getting out for just 8 runs in the first innings against Chandigarh, it seemed like the story would tread the same unfortunate path. But when he came out to bat in the second innings, there was a different spark in his eyes. He was not just a batsman, he was on a mission.
Nearly 20 months later, an innings arrived that reminded everyone that this name is not yet over. After staying quiet following his last century for Mumbai in February 2024, Prithvi Shaw's double century had fans' hopes rising high again. Could it be that Prithvi Shaw is preparing for a comeback..? His recent innings echoed the memories of old days - the same aggressive style, the same carefree shots, and the unmistakable ‘
Sehwag Touch
’. The key question now is - Can this innings open the
door for Prithvi Shaw to return to Team India?
Career-Reviving Innings of Prithvi Shaw
At 25, Shaw launched an assault on the Chandigarh bowlers right from the start. In the first 55 balls itself, he had amassed 80 runs with the help of 13 boundaries. His pace only increased thereafter. He completed his century in just 72 balls on the third day - his first century for Maharashtra. The innings was imbued with the confidence that was once his signature.
Yet, Shaw did not stop there. With every run, he conveyed that the fire within him was very much alive. As if asserting with every ball - 'Do not consider me finished, I am still alive.'
Then came the moment that thrilled everyone. Prithvi Shaw completed his double century in just 141 balls. In the history of the Ranji Trophy, if we exclude the plate group matches, this was the second fastest double century. Previously, only Ravi Shastri achieved this feat in 123 balls against Baroda in the 1984-85 season.
(In the 2023-24 season, Tanmay Agarwal from Hyderabad scored a double century in 119 balls in a plate group match - the fastest double century in the entire Ranji history. As the quality of bowling and the competition level in plate groups is generally considered to be lower)
Still India's Most Explosive Opener
Shaw has now become the second Indian batsman to score a double century in fewer than 200 balls more than once in first-class cricket. Before him, this feat was only achieved by Virender Sehwag, who did it three times for India.
Prithvi Shaw's innings ended at 222 runs off 156 balls. During this, he hit 29 fours and 5 sixes. Applause resonated throughout the ground. It was not merely a celebration of an innings, but a welcoming back of a lost player by the spectators.
This is the same Prithvi who led India to victory at the Under-19 World Cup at the age of 18. The same player who had a stormy debut in international cricket. But then... everything fell apart. Now he changed teams - moved from Mumbai to Maharashtra. He said, 'I needed a new environment.'
Rewriting His Career Through Sheer Determination
The journey from Mumbai to Maharashtra, the path from criticism to confidence, and the road from failures to self-discovery - Prithvi Shaw's innings became a symbol of all these. He not only scored runs in cricket but renewed his identity, his determination, and his existence.
That day, Prithvi Shaw didn't just score a double century, he rewrote the story of his career. Every boundary was an answer, every six a statement, and every run a hope. On that Chandigarh morning, cricket witnessed an old sun rising again - a player who had fallen but had risen to stand tall once more.
