Lalchand Rajput analyses Prithvi Shaw's downfall and the path to a possible revival | Exclusive

Prithvi Shaw is one of the most polarising cricketers to emerge from India in the past decade. The right-handed batter first shot to prominence when he scored 546 off just 330 balls in a Harris Shield match at Mumbai's Azad Maidan, representing Rizvi Springfield against St Francis D'Assisi. At the time, his 546 was the highest score by an Indian batter in minor cricket before Pranav Dhanawade's unbeaten 1009 in 2016.

Shaw went on to captain India at the ICC Men's U19 World Cup and led the side to the title. He was then fast-tracked into Test cricket and responded with a century on debut, scoring 134 against West Indies in Rajkot in October 2018.

However, Shaw appears to have lost his way and is no longer even attracting opportunities in the Indian Premier League (IPL). UAE men's team head coach Lalchand Rajput, who also hails from Mumbai and understands the rigours of the city's cricketing system, believes Shaw's immense talent has gone to waste. However, Rajput feels the 26-year-old still has time on his side and can stage a strong comeback with the right guidance and mentorship.

"I think Prithvi Shaw is someone who had a lot of talent, and that talent has gone to waste," Rajput said on the latest episode of the Mr Cricket UAE podcast. "But he still has age on his side. He can always come back if there is proper mentoring behind him."

When asked about the possible reasons behind Shaw's decline, Rajput suggested that the rapid arrival of fame and money at a young age may have played a part, with the batter perhaps struggling to handle it maturely.

"There are various reasons. When fame and money come very quickly, some players' focus on cricket can shift slightly. The moment it shifts away from cricket, the game can hit you very hard. That's why we always say, don't take cricket lightly. Your process should remain the same. Your practice should remain the same.

"Yes, there is more social media and mobile phone usage nowadays, and most people spend a lot of time on them. But when it's time for cricket, the focus should be on cricket practice."