‘He could not handle money’, Former India player reflects on Prithvi Shaw’s downfall

The surprising outcome of Prithvi Shaw going unsold at the IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah continues to spark discussions. Following comments from Mohammad Kaif, a former selector, and Delhi Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal, Pravin Amre, who closely mentored the 25-year-old during their time at DC, has weighed in on the matter. Amre suggested that Shaw may have struggled to cope with the fame and the allure of cricket’s glamorous lifestyle, which might have impacted his career trajectory.

Prithvi Shaw, now 25, recently purchased a luxurious penthouse in Bandra, one of Mumbai’s most upscale neighborhoods. Once regarded as Indian cricket’s next big star, Shaw’s career began on a high note, highlighted by leading India to victory in the Under-19 World Cup in 2018 and securing a lucrative IPL contract with the Delhi Capitals the same year. However, as Shaw’s success soared, Pravin Amre believes he may have become a bit complacent, allowing indiscipline to seep into his game. Despite being cautioned with examples like that of former cricketer Vinod Kambli—who was often cited as a cautionary tale—Amre feels these warnings failed to resonate with Shaw.

“Three years back, I gave him Vinod Kambli’s example. I’ve seen Kambli’s downfall from close quarters. It’s not easy to teach certain things to this generation. Thanks to being retained by DC, Prithvi must have earned ₹30-40 crore by the time he was 23. Will even an IIM graduate get that type of money? When you earn so much at such a young age, you tend to lose focus. It’s important that you know how to manage money, have good friends and prioritise cricket,” Amre told Times of India in an interview.

Prithvi Shaw announced his arrival on the international stage with a stunning century on his Test debut in 2018, earning a spot in the squad for the 2018/19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. However, his promising trajectory took a sharp turn when he suffered a severe ankle injury during a practice match, ruling him out of the series. From there, setbacks followed in quick succession. In 2020, Shaw faced an eight-month suspension from the BCCI after testing positive for terbutaline, a banned substance commonly found in cough syrups. Around the same time, concerns about his discipline began to emerge, prompting even the legendary Sachin Tendulkar to intervene and offer him guidance.

Despite efforts to steer him back on track, Prithvi Shaw’s troubles have persisted. Over the years, he has been embroiled in several controversies, including a highly publicized altercation with an influencer. More recently, Shaw faced a major setback when he was dropped from Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy squad due to issues with fitness and discipline. Currently competing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, his performances have been underwhelming, with scores of just 33 and 0 in his first two matches.

“It’s so disappointing to see that a talent like him is going in reverse direction. Someone told me that before he left for Mumbai for the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy, Prithvi cracked a superb century in a practice match at the Cricket Club of India.

“Even today, he can hit a 30-ball fifty in the IPL. Maybe he couldn’t handle the glamour and money, the side-effects of the IPL. His example can be a case study in Indian cricket. What’s happening to him shouldn’t happen to other cricketers. Talent alone can’t take you to the top. The three Ds – discipline, determination and dedication – are important,” Amre added.

During his time with the Delhi Capitals, Prithvi Shaw had the opportunity to work under legendary figures like Ricky Ponting and Sourav Ganguly. However, their mentorship failed to bring about lasting change. Ponting, once a staunch supporter of Shaw’s talent, has recently expressed his disappointment, joining the growing list of those who have given up on the young batter. Shaw’s IPL career peaked in 2021, where he amassed 479 runs, but his form plummeted over the next three seasons, producing only 587 runs across 26 matches. Pravin Amre, who closely observed Shaw’s journey, confirmed that indiscipline played a key role in his decline. Despite this, Amre remains optimistic, hoping Shaw can reflect on his mistakes, turn things around, and reignite his career.

“When DD bought him, he had just captained the India U-19 team to the World Cup title. Delhi was the first IPL team to really back his talent. At that time, ₹1.2 crore was a big amount. Next year, he performed well in the first game itself, smashing 99 off just 55 balls against KKR. From that match onwards, Delhi kept faith in him. However, even after backing him for six years, the DC management was left hurt. It was his indiscipline which hampered Prithvi’s performance. That hunger to come back and do well was missing,” Amre said.

“I was there in the management when we backed him, but I was also in the decision-making group which dropped him due to indiscipline. It wasn’t about punishment, we wanted him to come on the right path. I hope he takes this IPL auction snub positively. It’s an eye-opener for him. He’s still got age on his side. He’s just 25.”