Prithvi Pankaj Shaw (Hindi: [ˈpɾɪt̪ʋiː ʃɔː]; born 9 November 1999) is an Indian cricketer who has played for the Indian cricket team in all formats. He represents Maharashtra in domestic cricket and Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League. Shaw captained the Indian team that won the 2018 U19 Cricket World Cup.
A right-handed opening batter, Shaw made his first international appearance aged 18 on 4 October 2018 and became the second-youngest Indian after Sachin Tendulkar to make a Test century and the youngest Indian to do so on Test debut.
Shaw made his first-class debut for Mumbai in the semi-finals of the 2016–17 Ranji Trophy on 1 January 2017. He scored a century in the second innings and was man of the match. Shaw earned another distinction by scoring a century in his debut Duleep Trophy and equalled the record held by Sachin Tendulkar, who had scored a century in each in his debut matches in the Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy.
The International Cricket Council named Shaw as one of the five breakout stars in men's cricket in 2018. In July 2019, he was suspended by Board of Control for Cricket in India for a doping violation, the suspension lasting until November of the same year.
Prithvi Shaw was born and brought up in Virar, Maharashtra in 1999. His parents had moved from Gaya in Bihar to Virar as economic migrants.
In 2013, Shaw and his father were featured in the documentary film Beyond All Boundaries. He spent time in England to develop his cricket skills.
In 2021, Shaw was offered a contract by AAP Entertainment. He also received sponsorship from Indian Oil.
In February 2023, after an affray in a nightclub, YouTuber Sapna Gill and her male friends followed Shaw's vehicle, vandalised it, and manhandled him. A police case was filed and Gill was later arrested.
Shaw played for Middle Income Group (MIG) Cricket Club in Mumbai and was the captain of Rizvi Springfield High School and the Mumbai under-16 team. In November 2013, he had set the highest score by any batsman in any organised form of cricket since 1901 when he hit 546 in a Harris Shield elite division match.
Shaw captained the Rizvi Springfield team to two Harris Shield tournament titles in 2012 and 2013, a prestigious trophy in Mumbai's youth cricket. In 2012, he scored 155 in the semi-final and 174 in the final match. Shaw trained with and played for the Middle Income Group Cricket Club in Mumbai, where Arjun Tendulkar, son of Sachin Tendulkar, was a teammate.
In April 2012, Shaw was invited to England to play for Cheadle Hulme School in Manchester and scored 1,446 runs during a two-month stay, including a century on debut, and averaged 84. He also took 68 wickets. During his time in Manchester, Shaw made several appearances for local team High Lane Cricket club.
In 2013, Shaw played for Cryptics club against Middleton Stoney Cricket Club in Oxfordshire. He opened the batting and scored 68 in under 10 overs, before a change of pace in English conditions led to his dismissal, caught off the bowling of Professor Paul Wordsworth. During that time, Shaw's opening partner had amassed just 7 runs. Shaw also bowled, taking 3 wickets for 1 run in 5 overs, as well as completing a runout.
After scoring 73 runs against a team from the Julian Wood Cricket Academy in England, the academy's founder, Julian Wood, offered Shaw a trip to England in May 2013 and a stint at the academy. On 6 February 2017, while playing in his fifth ODI for India under-19s, he scored his first century at under-19 level.
Mumbai Cricket Team (2016-2024)
Shaw made his List A debut for Mumbai in the 2016–17 Vijay Hazare Trophy on 25 February 2017. In November 2017, batting for Mumbai in the 2017–18 Ranji Trophy, he scored his second consecutive century, and his fourth in five first-class matches since his debut. Shaw scored his first List A century against Leicestershire on 19 June 2018, making 132 runs. In October 2018, he was named in India A's squad for the 2018–19 Deodhar Trophy.
In February 2021, Shaw scored an unbeaten double-century (227* off 152) against Pondicherry in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Shaw's 227 not out is currently the best individual score in the tournament's history. He scored 827 runs in the same tournament which is the most runs in a single season.
On 12 January 2023, in the Ranji trophy, he scored 379 against Assam, the second-highest first-class score by an Indian player, behind B. B. Nimbalkar of Maharashtra.
Shaw captained Mumbai in the 2020-21 Vijay Hazare Trophy and the 2021-22 Ranji Trophy, with the team reaching the final on both occasions. Mumbai beat Uttar Pradesh in the 2020-21 Vijay Hazare final but lost to Chandrakant Pandit's Madhya Pradesh in the 2021 Ranji final. He also won the T20 Mumbai League 2019 as captain of North Mumbai Panthers. In June 2025, Shaw admitted to reduced practice hours and losing focus. Despite his struggles, he remains motivated to revive his career, with support from teammates like Rishabh Pant. Shaw went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction but showed improved form and fitness in the 2025 Mumbai T20 League.