Shreyas Iyer on Prithvi Shaw: “He Needs to Get His Work Ethics Right”

Prithvi Shaw’s immense talent has been evident since his Test debut century in 2018, but his career remains riddled with inconsistency and fitness concerns. Speaking after Mumbai’s victorious 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) campaign, their captain Shreyas Iyer emphasized that Shaw must improve his “work ethics” to unlock his full potential.

Shaw’s Struggles and Returns

Shaw was dropped from Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy squad earlier this season due to fitness issues.
He returned for the SMAT, scoring 197 runs at a strike rate of 156.34 in nine games but averaging under 22. His five promising cameos were marred by four low scores.
Earlier this year, Shaw was also released by Delhi Capitals after being dropped during IPL 2024 and went unsold in the 2025 IPL auction.

Iyer: The Sky Is the Limit for Shaw

“He needs to get his work ethics right, and if he does that, the sky is the limit for him,” Iyer said, suggesting that Shaw must take responsibility for his career.

“We can’t babysit anyone, right? Every professional playing at this level needs to know what they should be doing. He has to focus, sit back, put a thinking cap on, and figure it out himself. No one can force him; he has played so much cricket, and everyone has given him inputs.”

Greg Chappell’s Advice to Shaw

Last month, Greg Chappell penned a letter urging Shaw to embark on a “journey of self-reflection”, echoing Iyer’s sentiment that Shaw’s revival depends on his own initiative.

Mumbai’s SMAT Triumph

Mumbai clinched the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024 title, defeating Madhya Pradesh in the final. It marked Mumbai’s second domestic title in two seasons, following their 2023-24 Ranji Trophy victory.

Key Performers:
- Mumbai’s experienced top five of Rahane, Shaw, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, and Iyer played crucial roles.
- Suryansh Shedge impressed on debut, while Royston Dias featured in five of his nine T20 matches this season.
Young Bowlers Step Up:
Mumbai’s relatively inexperienced bowling line-up—featuring Atharva Ankolekar, Mohit Avasthi, Tanush Kotian, and Shedge—delivered when it mattered most.
- Shardul Thakur was the only bowler with extensive T20 experience, having also represented India.

Iyer Praises ‘Fearless’ Youngsters

Iyer commended Mumbai’s young players for stepping up at crucial moments:
“The way they showcase their talent is simply phenomenal. Their approach, both on and off the field, is fearless, and that’s the kind of player we need to back.”

Mumbai’s bowlers, despite struggling initially, showed marked improvement:
“We conceded 224 runs in the first match (against Goa), but the way they performed in the last two games was commendable. Conceding around 170 in the final, where conditions favored the batters, was a brilliant effort.”

Key Takeaways

Prithvi Shaw’s Crossroads: Needs self-discipline and focus to revive his career.
Shreyas Iyer’s Leadership: Instilling accountability and praising Mumbai’s fearless young players.
Mumbai’s Bowling Success: Inexperience didn’t deter their bowlers from delivering in crunch situations.
SMAT Title Triumph: Mumbai’s blend of experienced stars and emerging talent proved decisive.