Prithvi Shaw Vows to Return: Reflects on List A Performance After Vijay Hazare Trophy Omission

New Delhi, Dec 17 (NationPress) Prithvi Shaw voiced his disappointment and frustration after being left out of Mumbai's roster for the first three matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) revealed its 17-member squad for the tournament on Tuesday, just two days post Mumbai's victory in the SMAT, where they triumphed over Madhya Pradesh in the final.

Ajinkya Rahane, a key player for Mumbai in the SMAT with 469 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of 164.56, has opted to rest following his request for a break. Rahane's significant contributions, which included five half-centuries as an opener, were vital for Mumbai's success.

Shreyas Iyer remains captain, as Mumbai named a full-strength squad featuring stalwarts like Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, and Shardul Thakur. Opener Ayush Mhatre, who missed the SMAT to represent India in the Under-19 Asia Cup, returns to strengthen the team.

Shaw, who was omitted from the squad, took to Instagram to highlight his impressive List A record and reflect on the situation. "Tell me god, what more do I have to see…if 65 innings, 3399 runs at an average of 55.7 with a strike rate of 126, I'm not good enough…but I will keep my faith in you and hopefully people believe in me still…cause I will come back for sure. Om Sai Ram," Shaw posted on Instagram.

The decision to exclude Shaw arises amid questions regarding his recent performances. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), Shaw scored only 197 runs in nine innings, with a top score of 49 in the quarter-final against Vidarbha. His inconsistency has coincided with increasing scrutiny about his fitness and dedication.

Shaw's exclusion follows a challenging few months. Earlier in October, he was dropped from Mumbai's Ranji Trophy squad due to concerns about his fitness and alleged disciplinary issues. His inability to secure a team in the recent IPL auction further fueled discussions regarding his declining form and work ethic.

Mumbai captain Shreyas Iyer addressed Shaw's situation after their SMAT victory, emphasizing the importance of self-discipline. "He needs to get his work ethics right, and if he does that, the sky is the limit for him. We can't babysit anyone, right? Every professional playing at this level needs to know what they should be doing. He has also done it in the past; it's not that he hasn’t. He has to focus, sit back, put a thinking cap on, and figure it out himself," Iyer stated.