Prithvi Shaw Reveals Lifestyle Change: ‘No More Going Out, Just Family and Cricket’

Prithvi Shaw Focuses on Cricket and Family, Says He Has Lost Interest in Going Out

Prithvi Shaw is determined to put the distractions of the past behind him and concentrate on rebuilding his cricket career. The 26-year-old looked cheerful and confident while captaining Maharashtra against Services in their Ranji Trophy 2026-27 opener at Palam, where his team registered a convincing victory.

Shaw played an attacking knock of 70 in the first innings and made several important decisions as captain. Maharashtra successfully defended a target of 248, dismissing Services for 120 in the fourth innings despite losing valuable playing time to rain.

Senior batter Ankit Bawne also played a significant role, scoring a century in the first innings and adding 48 in the second. Shaw was among those who congratulated his longtime friend after the match.

Yet, away from the cricket field, Shaw is making a conscious effort to lead a quieter life. He wants to devote more time to his family and cricket while avoiding the distractions that come with being a public figure.

“I am working harder than ever before. Obviously, I am not quite on social media right now. I am just working on myself. Just me, my cricket and my family. Those are the only three things I am focusing on right now. Anything else, I am just trying to ignore or keep aside,” Shaw said.

Why Prithvi Shaw Prefers Staying Indoors

Shaw admitted that he no longer enjoys going out as much as he once did, particularly because of the constant presence of paparazzi and cameras.

“No, no, it is not about that. It is about a lot of these paparazzi people and all. And I just do not like going out anymore,” he said.

The cricketer explained that he wants to protect his personal space and keep his life away from unnecessary public scrutiny.

“I have my personal space, and obviously, you guys know how I am and what I like personally. It is good for other people; someone likes it, someone does not. I do not like cameras around me when I am living my personal life somewhere.”

Shaw now prefers spending his free time in his hotel room, watching Netflix or playing video games on his PlayStation 5.

Among his favourite games are GTA, FIFA and Tekken. He also enjoys cricket video games, particularly when he wants to make up for a disappointing performance in real life.

“I play GTA, and then I play FIFA, of course. I am very good at FIFA. I play online sometimes. Then I play Tekken. What else do I play? I play cricket as well. I have got my own career mode. I play as myself. If I get out for zero or something low, I go there and score 400 or 500. That is the kind of motivation I get from it. It is fun,” he said.

Shaw laughed while describing how he responds to a low score in a video game by scoring hundreds of runs as his virtual self.

“When you are in the room, you know, I have stopped going outside. Even if I go out, it is for dinner or something. I like being in the room and playing my PlayStation. Obviously, there is Netflix and all that stuff to watch, so I am enjoying it.”

From Record-Breaking Teenager to a Comeback Battle

Shaw first became a household name in Indian cricket after scoring an extraordinary 546 runs in a Harris Shield school match in Mumbai. His reputation grew further when he captained India to the Under-19 World Cup title in 2018.

That same year, he made an impressive start to his international career, scoring a century on his Test debut against the West Indies.

His early performances raised expectations of a long and successful career with India. However, his progress at the international level slowed, and his last appearance for the national team came against Sri Lanka in July 2021.

Shaw has represented India in five Tests, six ODIs and one T20I. Since his last international outing, he has faced several setbacks, including injuries, inconsistent performances and questions about his fitness and discipline.

In October 2024, Mumbai dropped him from their Ranji Trophy squad amid reported concerns over his fitness and discipline. The situation worsened when he went unsold at the IPL 2025 mega auction after Delhi Capitals released him.

For a player once viewed as one of India’s brightest batting prospects, the setbacks marked a difficult period.

Greg Chappell’s Letter Offered a Timely Reminder

Former India coach Greg Chappell, who had watched Shaw during his Under-19 days, reached out to the batter with a letter during this challenging phase.

Chappell encouraged him to learn from rejection, take responsibility for his career and focus on the steps needed to return to his best.

Shaw’s current outlook reflects a desire to move forward rather than remain preoccupied with past disappointments.

“I feel that comments from outside do not really matter to me. What matters is what my family thinks about me and how I am as a person. I know myself and what are the right things to do to achieve a milestone,” he said.

He acknowledged that everyone makes mistakes and that he, too, has lessons to learn.

“I might be wrong somewhere, and that is not an issue. No one is correct in this life. A lot of people, including you, might not be correct. Everyone goes through it. It is all about destiny, and I never look at the past anymore.”

At 26, Shaw believes he still has plenty of time to revive his career. Although watching younger players enter the professional game sometimes makes him feel older, he understands that age alone should not define his prospects.

Maharashtra Move Gives Shaw a New Opportunity

Leaving Mumbai for Maharashtra was a significant step for Shaw, who had spent most of his formative years in Mumbai’s cricketing system.

However, he says the transition has been positive, with the team providing a supportive environment.

“They have been wonderful. This is my second year, and it has been really nice. They are taking good care of me. Obviously, changing states was not easy for me, but after coming here, it did not feel that way. I already knew a lot of people, so it was easy for me, and I am kind of enjoying it,” he said.

Shaw showed encouraging form during the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, scoring 537 runs in seven matches. His tally included a spectacular 222 off just 156 balls against Chandigarh.

Those performances helped him return to Delhi Capitals for IPL 2026. However, he did not feature in a match during the tournament.

With competition for places in India’s opening batting positions remaining intense, Shaw knows he must deliver consistent performances to strengthen his case for a national comeback.

“If you want to get to the top, there is a big line of openers waiting to go up, so you have to be consistent enough to be there. I have always seen that my team comes first before I do, and I think that is what makes my consistency level better,” he said.

Shaw Wants Young Players to Prioritise Work Ethic

As Maharashtra captain, Shaw is also taking on the responsibility of guiding younger players. He believes seniority should not determine how teammates are treated and that everyone must contribute equally to the team’s success.

“Maharashtra has a good bunch of kids. It is a mixture of seniors and juniors, but for me, everybody is equal. Before leading the side, I never believed in the senior-junior distinction,” he said.

Rather than telling younger players how to live their lives, Shaw wants them to understand that enjoyment should never come at the expense of professional commitment.

“I will just tell them not to let their work ethic suffer and to make sure they do not start enjoying themselves more than they work. That is the only thing I will say. Otherwise, they can do whatever they want. It is their life. You have one life, so it is fine.”

‘It Is Me Versus Me’: Shaw Still Dreams of Playing for India

Despite the disappointments of recent years, Shaw remains determined to represent India again. He recognises that the competition is fierce and that returning to international cricket will require sustained performances rather than occasional flashes of brilliance.

For him, the motivation comes from within rather than a desire to silence critics.

“If that goal were not there, I would not even be playing today. Obviously, the ultimate goal, the biggest goal, is to go back there and return to the Indian team. It is not about proving anything to anyone. It is me versus me. That is it,” he said.

Shaw’s immediate priorities are clear: improve his work ethic, dedicate more time to cricket and enjoy the support of his family and teammates.

He intends to keep his personal life simple and let his performances do the talking.

“I want to be with my guys, focus on cricket, focus on my work ethic and give more time to cricket. Then I go to the hotel room and play some PS5. That is it.”

For a cricketer whose career has been shaped by both extraordinary early success and difficult setbacks, the focus now is on consistency, personal growth and earning another opportunity to wear India’s colours.