Team India batsman Shreyas Iyer has shared his thoughts on Prithvi Shaw ahead of the second leg of the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, which resumes on Thursday, January 23. Shreyas Iyer heaped praise on Prithvi Shaw but added that the young opener needs to focus on improving his work ethic to regain his place.
The 25-year-old batsman’s recent struggles have largely been due to off-field controversies and concerns over his fitness. Shaw went unsold in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction and things got worse when he was dropped from the Mumbai squad during the Ranji Trophy campaign.
Prithvi Shaw is blessed with a phenomenal talent – Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer highlighted the importance of work ethic when discussing the fall of Prithvi Shaw. Shreyas said Shaw has natural talent, especially his ability to time the ball and score quickly. He believes that Shaw is incredibly gifted and that improving his approach will lead to positive results.
“Prithvi Shaw has also started brilliantly. He has the great blessing of measuring the ball and scoring at great pace. And all of us in the team feel that he is blessed with that phenomenal talent. So he just has to focus on his work ethic and everything else will follow, he is a godsend,” Iyer said (via The Indian Express).
Prithvi Shaw has focused on fitness to make a strong comeback
Prithvi Shaw, who led India to victory in the 2018 Under-19 World Cup, has been hailed as the future star of Indian cricket. He made an impressive debut with a knock of 134 runs in the Test against the West Indies. Shaw scored 339 runs in five Tests and appeared in seven white-ball matches for India.
Recently, Shaw was left out of Mumbai’s Vijay Hazare Trophy squad and it remains uncertain whether he will be included in Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy match against Jammu & Kashmir starting on January 23. Shaw is currently focused on improving his fitness and working towards a strong comeback.
Abhishek doesn’t focus too much on the player’s mindset – Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer praised Abhishek Nayar for his approach to coaching. They also worked together in Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL. Iyer described Nayar’s coaching style as focusing on improving players by enhancing their natural abilities and skills, rather than trying to change a player’s technique.
“Abhishek doesn’t talk to the players much about their mindset. He just tries to make each of them comfortable around him. And he tries to gain knowledge about their background, their mindset, how they react in a certain situation. And to top all these factors, he he tries and does certain things when he’s practicing with them, so I think that’s his strength as a coach,” Iyer said (as per the above source).
“Whenever he gives you a point, or whenever he tries to improve something in your skills, he won’t be hell-bent on changing your technique or anything. He’d let you be who you are. And he’d let you enjoy the sport more than thinking or overthinking a particular moment and that’s one of the best things about him that makes him a bit different from other coaches,” concluded Iyer.
BCCI’s decision to bring in Sitanshu Kotak as additional batting coach signals uncertainty for Abhishek Nayar’s position. Nayar’s future as India’s assistant coach could be affected by the team’s performance in the upcoming ODI series against England and the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Also read: IPL 2025: Shreyas Iyer reveals all about KKR’s sacking
