The Life Story Of Prithvi Shaw Explained In 20 Facts!

Prithvi Shaw

If you are Prithvi Shaw, a young talented batsman from India making waves on the local and national scene, comparisons are inevitable. 

For some, the burden of being compared to Sachin Tendulkar weighs too heavy. However, there are others who shine through sheer hard work and commitment. The latest batting phenom walking in the footsteps of the Master Blaster is 21-year-old right-handed batsman Prithvi Shaw, who made his first-class debut for Mumbai in the semi-finals of the Ranji Trophy, batting a century (120) in the second innings versus Tamil Nadu and winning a match of the match honour. Back then, the youngster played no more than two years at the senior level but was already reverberating in cricket circles ever since 2010 when he was only 11.

His dedication to cricket and his mind blowing performances have not only taken him to great heights but have raised the expectations of cricket fans. There are many in Indian cricket pushing for this prodigiously talented batsman. Here are 20 facts about Prithvi Shaw’s life: 

The Next Sachin Tendulkar: Here Are 20 Facts About Prithvi Shaw 

1. Quick Facts

Prithvi Shaw Cricketer
  • Birth Name: Prithvi Gupta
  • Full Name: Prithvi Pankaj Shaw   
  • Nickname: Prithvi Missile   
  • Profession: Cricketer (Batsman)    
  • Height (approx.) in centimeters- 168 cm  in meters- 1.68 m in feet inches- 5’ 6”   
  • Eye Colour:Black   
  • Hair Colour:Black   
  • Test- 4 October 2018 vs West Indies at Rajkot 
  • ODI- 5 February 2020 vs New Zealand at Seddon Park
  • T20- Did Not Play   
  • Jersey Number# 100 (India)
  • Coach/MentorCoach: Santosh Pingulkar
  • Mentor: Rahul Dravid

2. Prithvi Shaw was born on 9th November 1999 in Virar, Mumbai

His full name is Prithvi Pankaj Shaw. 

Prithvi Pankaj Shaw was born on November 9, 1999, in Maharashtra’s Vihar. He is a right-hand bowler and an off-spinner.    

Shaw was offered a contract by AAP Entertainment in 2010 allowing him and his family to move to Mumbai and continue his cricketing education. The Thane-born cricketer has gained stature for his stroke-play and his attacking instincts. These helped him to gain success at the U19 level, in first-class cricket and also in the IPL.  

3. Family ancestral roots are in Gaya, Bihar

Prithvi Shaw father Pankaj Shaw

Prithvi’s father’s name is Pankaj Gupta (later changed to Shaw). Prithvi lost his mother at the young age of 4.

4. Prithvi used to travel for 90 minutes everyday for practicing at the MIG (Middle Income Group) in Bandra

About Prithvi Shaw

Waking up for practice every day, as early as 4:30 a.m, a very young Shaw would travel 90 minutes to catch the 6:00 a.m. train headed for Middle Income Group (MIG) ground in Bandra for training with both his cricket kit and school bag!

5. Former left-arm spinner Nilesh Kulkarni first spotted his batting ability in 2010

Prithvi Shaw Interview

It was in 2010 when former left-arm spinner Nilesh Kulkarni first spotted Shaw’s ability with the bat. 

He was only 11 at the time, but Kulkarni’s sports management company snapped the young Mumbaikar up for an annual stipend of Rs 3 lakh. Later, witnessing his talent, a local samaritan helped out father and son, by offering the two men, his very own family flat in Santa Cruz. This huge generosity did not just cut travel time, but also gave the young lad a better opportunity to focus on his academics. 

6. Got sponsorships at the age of 11

At the age of 11, he and his father migrated to Mumbai from Virar as he was offered a contract by AAP Entertainment and sponsorship from Indian Oil to continue his cricketing education.

7. Prithvi was the central character in the documentary film Beyond All Boundaries, in the year 2013

According to IMDb, the following is a summary: 

“As India, host of the 2011 World Cup of Cricket, begins its campaign to win the Cup after a 28-year drought, three ordinary Indians seek their salvation/escape from a difficult life through their passion for cricket – Sudhir, a penniless superfan who cycles across India to cheer the team; Prithvi, then a 12-year old boy wonder who is a cricket prodigy; and Akshaya, a girl cricketer from Mumbai’s slums. We follow Sudhir to see what drives the man who has renounced so much, including marriage, for his dream of cheering Team India forever; Akshaya as she competes in the trials for selection to the Mumbai Women’s Team, and Prithvi as he copes with the unique pressures of being a cricket phenom in a cricket-crazy nation”.

8. Travelled twice to England to extend his cricketing education

Julian Wood Julian Wood

Often being compared with Tendulkar, he even travelled with the senior team during the recent England tour, although he didn’t play. He was there to learn. 

Shaw was also offered a trip to England and a stint at the Julian Wood Cricket Academy by the academy’s founder, Julian Wood

9. Captained Rizvi Springfield to 2 Harris Shield titles in 2012 and 2013

Facts About Prithvi Shaw

It is considered the most prestigious trophy in Indian youth cricket.

In November 2013, Prithvi Shaw smashed 546 runs from 330 balls while playing for Rizvi Springfield in a Harris Shield match. It was the highest score by an Indian in organized cricket until Pranav Dhanawade made 1000.

Only two other players have scored more than Prithvi in an innings in any form of organized cricket. 

10. Scored a whopping 1,446 runs during a two month stay in England

Prithvi Shaw Ranji Trophy

He was invited to England to play for Cheadle Hulme School in Manchester.

Prithvi, well known for his stroke-play, was present in Manchester in April 2012, as part of an exchange programme. He played for Cheadle Hulme School in that tour where he scored over 1400 runs across two months. 

11. A record knock of 546 from 330 balls

Prithvi Shaw Facts

By 2013, Prithvi Shaw set the highest score in Indian schools’ cricket scoring 546 runs from 330 balls batting for Rizvi Springfield during a Harris Shield Match. 

As of today, it is the 4th highest score by any batsman in any form of organised sport. Soon he became captain of the Rizvi Springfield High School in 2013. 

His unbelievable 546 in 330 balls record in the Harris Shield Elite Division Tournament was overtaken by Pranav Dhanawade in 2016. 

12. Played for the Cleethorpes in the Yorkshire ECB County Premier League during the summer of 2014

Prithvi Shaw Vijay Hazare Trophy

Meanwhile, stints at a United Kingdom-based academy and a second rung countryside at such a tender age gave him the exposure to play in different conditions as well.

13. Scored a century in his first-class debut

Prithvi Shaw Man of the Series West Indies

Prithvi Shaw made his first-class debut while playing for Mumbai in the 2016/17 Ranji Trophy semi-final against Tamil Nadu. During the match, he not only batted a century in the second innings, but was also declared ‘man of the match’. 

He was just 17 years and 57 days old at that time when he scored his maiden ton (on January 1st, 2017) while Sachin Tendulkar was 15 years and 230 days old. 

Later, he scored a fifty in the final against Gujarat to become the youngest to score a fifty in the Ranji Trophy final. 

14. Century in his debut match of the Duleep Trophy

Prithvi Shaw And Sachin Tendulkar

Prithvi Shaw bagged a century EACH in his Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy debut. 

At the age of 17 years and 320 days, Prithvi Shaw became the youngest centurion in a Duleep Trophy final when he batted 154 on the opening day of the game for India Red against India Blue. 

At this instance, he equalled the records set by the great Sachin Tendulkar who had also made centuries in his debut matches for Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy. 

In addition to this, he also broke the Master Blaster’s record of becoming the youngest player to score a century in the Duleep Trophy at the tender age of 17. 

15. Made an impressive List- A debut for Mumbai in the 2016-2017 Vijay Hazare Trophy on February 25th 2017

Prithvi Shaw Virat Kohli

Widely believed to be India’s next Sachin Tendulkar, the Under-19 World Cup winning captain hammered his first List-A century for Mumbai. 

He scored a scintillating century (102 runs in 61 balls) for Mumbai versus Railways in the Vijay Hazare Trophy following on from his 98 runs of 60 balls in the previous game against Baroda.

16. Led India in the Under-19 Cricket World Cup

Prithvi Shaw Rahul Dravid

He was named captain of the Indian squad for the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup.

Scoring an impressive 261 runs in the tournament at an average of 65.25, Shaw became the highest scoring Indian captain at this level surpassing the likes of Unmukt Chand, Virat Kohli and Parthiv Patel. 

His captaincy led India to a spectacular win beating Australia by 8 wickets, besides showcasing his talent in the Indian Premier League, playing for the Delhi Daredevils. 

17. Youngest player to open the batting in an IPL game

Prithvi Shaw Test Debut

Shaw was picked up by the Delhi Daredevils in the 2018 IPL auction and it paid off as he went on to become the youngest player to open batting in the IPL history at the age of 18 years and 165 days.

The Delhi Daredevils franchise auctioned the Mumbai opener in the 2018 IPL auction for a hefty Rs 1.2 crore. 

18. Youngest batsman to make a Test century on debut for India

On April 23, 2018, Prithvi Shaw became the youngest player to open the batting in an IPL match.  With 4 days, he batted his first IPL 50 against the Kolkata Knight Riders, making him the joint youngest player to score an IPL half-century along with Sanju Samson at the tender age of 18 years and 169 days.

He also premiered his International Test debut against West Indies on 4th October 2018 and scored a maiden century in the test match. This made him the youngest batsman to make a test century on a debut for India (18 years and 329 days). 

At the same test, Shaw was declared the ‘Player of the Series’.

19. Earned himself a deal worth 36 lakhs with SG

Prithvi Shaw Life

The brand which had previously been endorsed by stalwarts like Sunil Gavaskar and Rahul Dravid.

20. Records (main ones)

Under-19 Cricket World Cup Prithvi Shaw
  • The youngest Indian cricketer to score a half-century on Test debut (after Hanif Mohammad, Jeff Stollmeyer, Tamim Iqbal and Imran Farhat).
  • The first Indian cricketer to score a century on debut in the Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, and Test.
  • The 15th Indian cricketer to score a century on Test debut.
  • The 2nd youngest Indian cricketer (after Sachin Tendulkar) to score a Test century (18 years 329 days) on debut.
  • The 6th Indian cricketer to win the Player-of-the-Match award on Test debut.
  • The first schoolboy cricketer to score more than 500 runs in an official inter-school match (546 runs from 330 balls playing for Rizvi Springfield in a Harris Shield match).  

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