Prithvi Shaw got derailed for his Filmy Friend Circle, Money has no part in it: Childhood Coach Santosh Pingulkar | Exclusive

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Prithvi Shaw, a once-promising young cricketer who captained India to an Under-19 World Cup victory, has faced a turbulent career in recent years.

A plethora of talent, Shaw is stationed far away from the India selection at the moment, while he recently got ignored in the IPL 2025 mega auction as well. His fitness, discipline have been questioned repeatedly, most recent when Mumbai left him out of the Ranji Trophy squad.

His childhood coach Santosh Pingulkar, who trained him for over a decade, shared insights in an exclusive chat with MyKhel into Shaw's early days, his rise to fame, and the challenges he now faces. Pingulkar was Prithvi's first coach and shaped the budding talent of the Mumbaikar. The coach revealed that Shaw began training at the tender age of 3-4 and was under his guidance for a decade.

"He was different from the beginning. Neither his father nor his mother played cricket, but Prithvi had God's gift. His style, whether it was defending or hitting shots, was unique. He had a friendly nature and stood out among others."

The coach worked with Shaw until he was 14, after which Shaw joined the Mumbai Cricket Association's (MCA) senior practice sessions at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). Despite this transition, Shaw would return to his coach for guidance whenever possible.

"He was with me till 14 years, and even after moving to MCA, he would come to practice once or twice a week whenever he had time," the coach explained.

Shaw's father played a pivotal role in his cricketing journey. He was the one who dedicated his life to his son's career and played the role of both parents.

"His mother passed away when he was just four years old. His father took care of everything-feeding him, taking him to practice, and even carrying his kit bag during train journeys from Virar to Mumbai. He sacrificed a lot to ensure Prithvi's success."

Prithvi was the captain of the India U19 team which won the World Cup in 2018. He also made his India debut with a bang and went on to score two centuries in Test cricket. But things took a downhill turn after his 21st birthday.

Friend Circle was the main cause of Prithvi's Downfall

Although the abundance of money has been deemed as a cause for his downfall, coach Pingulkar says it is the friend circle which hasn't played the right part.

"Fame played a big role [behind 's declination]. His friend circle changed. He moved away from the cricketing world and got involved in the filmy world. His friends were not from a cricketing background and couldn't guide him back to focus on cricket. He didn't lose love for the game, but his time and attention got diverted. Injuries and a ban further distanced him from cricket."

The coach acknowledged Shaw's recent struggles, including his exclusion from the IPL. "I wasn't surprised when he wasn't picked for the IPL this year. He even reduced his base price to ₹75 lakhs, but it was unfortunate that he wasn't selected."

Despite these setbacks, Shaw is reportedly working towards a comeback and realizes his mistakes. He was added to the Mumbai squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and has showcased some restoration of his form, scoring 96 runs at a strike rate of 143 so far in the tournament.

"On his birthday, I spoke to him. He admitted that he has made mistakes and is now realizing them. He said he plans to focus on his fitness and get back into cricket," Pingulkar further says.

The India player still visits Virar and the coach says money has never been an issue for him. Prithvi has struggled with his father from the very beginning of his life and the financial lucrativeness has no part in his downward graph. And Pingulkar acknowledges Shaw's age and believes the player still has time in his hands for a turn around, but only if he realizes it.

"He's only 25 and has plenty of time to make a comeback. But realization has to come from within. We can guide him, but he has to implement the changes in his life and cricket."

Shaw's journey highlights both the brilliance of his talent and the challenges of handling fame at a young age. With determination and focus, he has every chance to reclaim his place in Indian cricket.