Prithvi Shaw says an India comeback is always at the back of his mind, but the opener is keeping his focus on the present as he builds form in the Ranji Trophy. Shaw spoke after Maharashtra routed Bengal by 10 wickets in Kolkata on Thursday, 5 November, in the 2026-27 season. The 26-year-old has not played for India in more than five years, and his last international appearance came against Sri Lanka in July 2021.
“There is always a thought at the back of the mind. But as much as I have experienced, I should not think so much ahead,” Shaw said. “Like I am giving you an interview now. After this, I will go to the room and then think what to do. I don’t think more than that. Just keep winning games. Have good training. Eat well.”
Prithvi Shaw on form and the road back
Prithvi Shaw has scored two half-centuries in seven innings in the current Ranji Trophy season, with his highest score of 70 coming against Delhi in Maharashtra’s opening match. He said his batting is in good order. “The batting is good, nothing is going wrong. It is just a matter of one innings,” he said. Facing Mohammed Shami on a seamer-friendly surface in the Bengal match was another test, and Shaw said playing the veteran pacer well mattered on that pitch.
“It was at the back of the mind. But it was also about how to play Shami Bhai well because I feel he is the main bowler for such wickets,” Shaw said. The 10-wicket win over Bengal offered Shaw and Maharashtra a timely lift, and the opener said the team comes first for him. He believes that approach brings the best out of his own batting, and he has spoken about how comfortable he feels with his new side since the move.
Prithvi Shaw switched from Mumbai to Maharashtra last season, and he is captaining Maharashtra in the 2026-27 season. He has said he enjoys playing for his new team, and the win over Bengal gave the side a strong result on the road. The result came in Kolkata, where Maharashtra completed a clear win over the hosts.
Prithvi Shaw and the long road since 2021
Prithvi Shaw announced himself as a teenager, captaining India to the Under-19 World Cup title in 2018 and scoring a century on Test debut against West Indies later that year. He has played five Tests, six ODIs and one T20I for India. His career then stalled, and Mumbai dropped him from their Ranji Trophy squad in October 2024. Delhi Capitals released him before the 2025 IPL mega auction, no team picked him, and Delhi later brought him back for the 2026 season, when he did not play a match.
The 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season gave him a platform to rebuild. Prithvi Shaw scored 537 runs in seven matches, including 222 off 156 balls against Chandigarh, and the form helped him return to the IPL setup with Delhi. Former India coach Greg Chappell wrote to him during the difficult period, encouraging him to learn from the setbacks and concentrate on rebuilding.
In an interview with India Today in October, Prithvi Shaw said he is working harder than before and has stepped back from social media. “I am working harder than ever before. Obviously, I am not quite on social media right now. I am just working on myself. Just me, my cricket and my family,” he said. He added that the goal of returning to the Indian team still drives him. “If that goal were not there, I would not even be playing today. Obviously, the ultimate goal, the biggest goal, is to go back there and return to the Indian team. It is not about proving anything to anyone. It is me versus me.”
Prithvi Shaw faces a crowded race for opening slots
Prithvi Shaw knows the competition for opening places is strong, with a long line of batters waiting for a chance at the top of the order. He has said consistency is what will decide whether he gets another opportunity, and his immediate task is to turn the current season into a run of scores. For now the work stays simple: win games with Maharashtra, train well, and eat well.