3 Controversies That Plagued Prithvi Shaw's Career

Prithvi Shaw and his controversies (X.com)Prithvi Shaw and his controversies (X.com)

Prithvi Shaw, one of India's most promising young cricketers, was once touted as the next big thing waiting to be explode in Indian cricket.

His extraordinary stroke play and prodigious talent fast-tracked his promotion to international cricket, where he joined an elite company of players to score a century on Test debut. 

However, after just 5 Tests, 6 ODIs, and 1 T20I, Prithvi Shaw disappeared from the scene largely due to consistent failures, injuries and, most importantly, due to multiple controversies.

Over the past couple of years, several off-field issues have sometimes overshadowed his on-field achievements. On that note, here are three major controversies that plagued Prithvi Shaw's career.

3. Failing Yo-Yo Test

Prithvi Shaw fails Yo-Yo test (X.com)Prithvi Shaw fails Yo-Yo test (X.com)

Ahead of the 2022 IPL edition, NCA mandated all centrally contracted players to undergo a Yo-Yo fitness test, regardless of their health and injury status. Prithvi Shaw, who was contracted with the Delhi Capitals, had been visiting NCA despite not being a BCCI-contracted player. 

Hence, he also took part in the fitness test but failed to receive a clearance. Shaw's Yo-Yo test score was reportedly less than 15, whereas the minimum cutoff bar for male cricketers was 16.5 back in 2022. The news quickly entered mainstream media, leading to questions over Shaw's seriousness towards personal fitness.

2. Doping Ban

Prithvi Shaw banned for doping (X.com)Prithvi Shaw banned for doping (X.com)

As Prithvi Shaw struggled to battle injury setbacks, a harmless cough syrup completely ruined his reputation. During the 2019 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Shaw's samples were collected as a part of BCCI's anti-doping procedure. However, the opener's sample had traces of terbutaline, a substance banned in the WADA's list of illegal substances. 

Hence, as per norms, BCCI handed Shaw an 8-month ban for violating doping regulations, and accordingly, Shaw missed the first half of the 2018-209 domestic season. Meanwhile, after widespread criticism, Shaw claimed that he accidentally consumed a cough syrup that had terbutaline in it. He accepted his mistake and acknowledged that as a professional cricketer, he should have been mindful of the things he consumes on a daily basis. 

1. Selfie Controversy With Social Media Influencer

Prithvi Shaw in fight with influencer (X.com)Prithvi Shaw in fight with influencer (X.com)

Prithvi Shaw found himself embroiled in a major social media controversy in February 2023 when he was accused of assault by Sapna Gill, a social media influencer. The incident reportedly took place in a nightclub in Mumbai, where Shaw allegedly refused to take a selfie with the influencer. 

The matter escalated when the influencer and her friends allegedly attacked Shaw's car with a baseball bat, leading to a police complaint being filed by Shaw's friend. Eventually, the incident became a media sensation, with both parties accusing each other of wrongdoing. Shaw claimed that he was being harassed, while the influencer accused him of assault. Ultimately, Prithvi Shaw was back in the limelight for all the wrong reasons, thus tarnishing his image off the field.