Prithvi Shaw Draws Parallel With Jethalal Of Popular TV Show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah- Here’s Why

India batter Prithvi Shaw, who recently secured a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Mumbai Cricket Association to represent another state in domestic cricket, has likened himself to a well-known television character-Jethalal from the sitcom Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah.

When questioned whether controversies follow him or if he brings them upon himself, Shaw quipped, "Nothing like this has happened for a long time, but one thing I would like to say is that controversies catch me. I am Jethalal of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah," as quoted by Dainik Jagran.

For context, Jethalal, portrayed by actor Dilip Joshi, is a central figure in the daily comedy show. His character is known for frequently landing in trouble, often unintentionally, and the show largely revolves around his misadventures-something Shaw believes mirrors his own off-field journey.

Last year, Shaw was dropped from a Ranji Trophy fixture by Mumbai's senior selection committee over fitness concerns. According to reports, the team management informed the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) that Shaw had 35 percent body fat. He was subsequently handed a two-week fitness programme by MCA's trainers in hopes of regaining peak condition.

Despite the setbacks, the 25-year-old revealed he had received interest from two or three state associations earlier this month. Back in October, MCA selectors had stated that Shaw would need to work on his fitness to return to the squad. However, a lack of noticeable improvement meant he was also omitted from the squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy in December 2024.

Shaw, who last played for India in 2022, expressed frustration over his exclusion, pointing toward his impressive List A statistics. He went unsold in the recent IPL Mega Auction held in Jeddah and had a modest outing in the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he scored just 197 runs from nine matches, with a highest score of 49.

Following his omission, Shaw took to social media and posted an emotional message highlighting his domestic record and questioning what more he needed to do to earn a recall.
"Tell me God, what more do I have to see... if 65 innings, 3399 runs at an average of 55.7 with a strike rate of 126, I'm not good enough... but I will keep my faith in you and hopefully people believe in me still... cause I will come back for sure.. Om Sai Ram," he wrote.

While Shaw hasn't featured in a domestic List A match in India since the 2022 Vijay Hazare Trophy, he did participate in England's One Day Cup, representing Northamptonshire. His performances there were mixed, with scores of 97, 72, 9, 23, and 17 in his last five games. During his final stint for Mumbai two seasons ago, his last five innings were 32, 54, 39, 51, and 10.

As he now looks for a fresh start with a new domestic side, Shaw remains hopeful of turning the tide and making a strong comeback to the national setup.