Prithvi Shaw Excluded from Mumbai’s Vijay Hazare Trophy Squad Amid Fitness Concerns

Prithvi Shaw has been left out of Mumbai’s squad for the first three rounds of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, which starts on December 21. The decision was announced on Tuesday, just two days after Mumbai clinched the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) by defeating Madhya Pradesh in Bengaluru.

Key Players in Mumbai’s Squad

Ajinkya Rahane, who played a crucial role in Mumbai’s SMAT triumph, has been rested following a personal request for a break. Rahane was Mumbai’s standout performer in the tournament, amassing 469 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of 164.56, including five half-centuries as an opener.
Shreyas Iyer will continue as captain, leading a full-strength 17-member squad featuring stars like Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, and Shardul Thakur.
Ayush Mhatre, who missed the domestic T20 competition due to his participation in the India Under-19 Asia Cup, returns to the team.

Shaw’s Struggles and Response

Shaw’s exclusion follows a string of underwhelming performances in the SMAT, where he managed 197 runs in nine innings, with a highest score of 49 in the quarter-final against Vidarbha. Concerns over his form and fitness continue to linger, as they have since his exclusion from Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy squad in October due to disciplinary issues.

After his omission, Shaw took to Instagram, sharing his impressive List A stats (65 innings, 3399 runs, average 55.7, strike rate 126). He wrote:
“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.”

Spotlight on Fitness and Discipline

Shaw’s fitness and work ethic remain topics of concern. Mumbai captain Shreyas Iyer emphasized the need for Shaw to take ownership of his fitness:
“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 at this level needs to know what they should be doing. He has done it in the past; now he has to focus, put on a thinking cap, and figure it out himself.”

Shaw’s challenges extend to the IPL, where he went unsold in the auction for the first time, raising further questions about his career trajectory.

Hardik Pandya Rested for Baroda

Meanwhile, Baroda, the semi-finalists of SMAT, will miss Hardik Pandya for the first few rounds of the Vijay Hazare Trophy. As part of his workload management, Pandya is being rested with an eye on India’s upcoming white-ball series against England and the Champions Trophy. In the SMAT, Hardik was in stellar form, scoring 246 runs at a strike rate of 193.70 with two half-centuries and taking six wickets in 19 overs.

Mumbai Squad Highlights:

Captain: Shreyas Iyer
Key Players: Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Shardul Thakur
Notable Exclusions: Prithvi Shaw (form and fitness issues), Ajinkya Rahane (rested)