"This a player who people said is as talented as Tendulkar" - Harbhajan Singh on Prithvi Shaw's IPL 2025 auction snub
Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was surprised at Prithvi Shaw's shocking downfall after a promising start, resulting in him going unsold at the recent IPL 2025 auction. The 25-year-old enjoyed a sensational start to his cricketing career, leading the Indian Under-19 team to glory in 2018.
Shaw then debuted for India in Tests in 2018 and scored a blistering 134 in his maiden international innings. His IPL career started in similar vein before the dramatic drop-off over the past few seaons.
Having gone out-of-favor for national selection, the talented youngster has endured fitness and other conduct issues in the last couple of years.
Speaking about Shaw's IPL auction snub, Harbhajan told News18:
"I don't know what happened, but whatever did, I feel this is something Prithvi Shaw will need to take stock of and decide how to approach his career going forward. Such things either make or break a career, and it's up to Shaw to decide which road he wants to take. It's very tough for any player to digest that he's gone unsold at the auction. And this a player who people said is as talented as Tendulkar."
He added:
"Our problem is that they started comparing him so early with a player as big as him [Sachin]. You put pressure on the player. But with Prithvi Shaw, there are many more factors than just cricket."
Prithvi Shaw was part of the Delhi Capitals (DC) setup from 2018 to 2024 before the franchise moved on from the right-hander during retentions this year.
He has been dropped from the playing XI a few times over the last two IPL seasons, averaging under 20 in 16 games.
"If he needs to look up to someone, make sure it's Virat Kohli" - Harbhajan Singh
Harbhajan Singh hoped Prithvi Shaw would work on his fitness and bounces back strongly from this tumultous period.
The former off-spinner called on the youngster to look no further than Virat Kohli for inspiration to improve his fitness.
"I hope he emerges out of this setback stronger. Work hard on his fitness; he's a very young guy. Must be around 24-25. He can go a long way if he focusses on his fitness. Because the Prithvi Shaw that we saw and the version of him we are seeing now – even size-wise – he clearly has ignored his fitness. Whereas, look at the fitness of Team India players, and it reflects on the ground. If he needs to look up to someone, make sure it's Virat Kohli," said Harbhajan.
Shaw is currently playing for Mumbai in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) and has struggled thus far with the bat, averaging under 20 in five games.
He has played 12 matches for India across formats, scoring 528 runs with a century and two half-centuries.