Prithvi Shaw Announces Captaincy Arrival With Explosive Half-Century
In a spectacular display of batting prowess, Prithvi Shaw made his captaincy debut for Maharashtra memorable by smashing a blistering half-century against Hyderabad in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The 26-year-old out-of-favour Indian batter showcased his exceptional talent at the JU Second Campus in Salt Lake, Kolkata on November 28.
The explosive opener, who went unsold in the IPL 2024 mega auction, reached his fifty in just 23 balls during Maharashtra's challenging chase of 192 runs. Shaw demonstrated why he's considered one of the most dangerous batters in domestic cricket by hammering 8 fours and 2 sixes en route to his maiden T20 half-century for Maharashtra.
Leadership Transition and Recent Form
Shaw took over the captaincy reins from Ruturaj Gaikwad, who earned selection for India's upcoming ODI series against South Africa. This leadership change came after Maharashtra's previous match against Jammu & Kashmir on November 26, where Shaw could only manage five runs from five balls under Gaikwad's captaincy, resulting in a five-wicket defeat.
Gaikwad's promotion to the national ODI squad followed his impressive performances for India A against South Africa A in Rajkot, where he scored 117 runs and remained unbeaten on 68 in the three unofficial ODIs. His last appearance for India was in a T20I match against Zimbabwe in Harare on July 13, 2024.
Shaw's Domestic Dominance Continues
The former Under-19 World Cup-winning captain, who recently switched from Mumbai to Maharashtra at the start of the 2025-26 domestic season, has been in tremendous form across formats. In the first half of the Ranji Trophy season, Shaw has accumulated 470 runs in seven innings across five matches for Maharashtra, including one double century and three fifties.
Shaw's current performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy indicates his determination to convert starts into substantial scores and guide his team to victory in challenging situations. As one of only five Indians to captain their country to an Under-19 World Cup victory, Shaw continues to prove his mettle in domestic cricket while keeping his hopes alive for an international comeback.
