Prithvi Shaw roared back into form by smashing the third-fastest double century in Ranji Trophy history, scoring a blistering 222 runs for Maharashtra against Chandigarh on Monday. It was his first first-class century for Maharashtra and the 14th of his career. Shaw reached his double ton in just 141 balls, behind only Hyderabad’s Tanmay Agarwal (119 balls) and Mumbai’s Ravi Shastri (123 balls). Notably, Shastri’s 1984-85 innings also featured his famous six sixes in an over.
Shaw’s explosive knock included 29 fours and five sixes, propelling Maharashtra to 359 for 3 declared at a scoring rate of 6.9 runs per over. Chandigarh responded with 129 for 1, still needing 335 more runs. This innings marks a strong comeback for Shaw, who had a quiet start to his Maharashtra stint, scoring a duck and 8 in earlier innings but showing flashes of brilliance with a 75 against Kerala.
After a disappointing 2024–25 season—where he was dropped from Mumbai for fitness and discipline issues and went unsold in the IPL auction—Shaw seems to have turned things around. He credited a renewed focus on fitness and diet, working closely with a personal trainer and dietitian in the off-season. His improved mindset and physical condition were evident in the Buchi Babu Invitational tournament, where he struck a century on debut for his new team.
Shaw said his transition to Maharashtra was seamless due to familiarity with teammates like Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ankit Bawne. While a return to the Indian side may not be immediate, his recent performances remind selectors of his talent as a potential reserve opener, especially with players like Abhimanyu Easwaran currently out of contention.
Leave a Reply