NEW DELHI: Prithvi Shaw, once regarded as one of India’s brightest cricketing talents, found no takers at the IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The 25-year-old batter, who captained India to victory at the 2018 U19 World Cup, had entered the auction with a conservative base price of Rs 75 lakh but remained unsold.
Shaw, who was released by Delhi Capitals after a six-year stint, had been a mainstay in the franchise since 2018. However, inconsistent performances and questions over his fitness have deterred franchises from bidding for him.
Delhi Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal, speaking to India Today, offered a candid assessment of Shaw’s journey and his current struggles. “Prithvi is a great kid but is misunderstood in many ways. I think, once in a while, we all need a jolt, and need to be shaken up from our slump,” Jindal said. Jindal highlighted the high expectations Shaw faced early in his career, with comparisons to legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara, creating an environment that may have hindered his growth. “When all your life you grew up hearing that you are the special one, the most talented, and is the only other batsman in the world other than Sachin and Kohli to own an MRF bat, that tells you a lot. Somebody called him Lara, somebody called him Sachin, or the next big thing…so he grew up in that environment.”
“Everyone from Mumbai cricket was talking about him. Mumbai has given us Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar, and now they were talking about him. So, this is that one jolt Prithvi needed. Till now he was on a fat IPL contract and playing across formats for Mumbai and was starting for Delhi,” Jindal said.

The Capitals co-owner further emphasized that Shaw’s path forward requires rediscovering his passion for the game while addressing issues of fitness and commitment. “He needs to work hard and get back to loving the game again, and work on his fitness and discipline. I hope he comes back and becomes the Prithvi Shaw he had known,” Jindal added.
Shaw’s decline in recent years has been stark. Once touted as a potential future star for India, his performances in domestic and IPL cricket have been inconsistent, and his lack of fitness has drawn criticism. This auction outcome may serve as a crucial turning point in Shaw’s career, as he now faces the challenge of rebuilding his reputation and earning his way back into top-level cricket.