Shreyas Iyer reveals how ‘God-gifted’ Prithvi Shaw can return to India

Team India batsman Shreyas Iyer shared his thoughts Prithvi Shaw ahead of the second leg of the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, which resumes on Thursday, January 23. Shreyas Iyer praised Prithvi Shaw but added that the youngster must first focus on improving his work ethic to regain his place.

The 25-year-old batsman’s recent struggles have been largely down to off-field controversies and concerns about his fitness. Shaw was not sold in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction and things got worse when he was dropped from Mumbai’s squad during the Ranji Trophy campaign.

Prithvi Shaw is blessed with a phenomenal talent – Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer emphasized the importance of work ethic when he discussed the decline 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 yield positive results.

“Prithvi Shaw also started on a great note. He has a great blessing to time the ball and score runs at a great pace. And we all in the team feel that he is blessed with this phenomenal talent. So he just needs to focus -you in his work ethic and everything else will follow, “It’s God-given,” Iyer said (via The Indian Express).

Prithvi Shaw focused on fitness to make a strong comeback

Prithvi Shaw, who led India to victory in the 2018 U-19 World Cup, was hailed as a future star of Indian cricket. He made an impressive debut with a knock of 134 runs in a Test against the West Indies. Shaw has scored 339 runs in five Tests and has appeared in seven white-ball matches for India.

Shaw was recently left out of Mumbai’s squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and it is not yet known whether he will be included in Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy match against Jammu and Kashmir, starting on January 23. Currently, Shaw is focused on improving his fitness and working on a strong comeback.

Abhishek doesn’t focus much on players’ mentality – Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer has 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 much to the players about their mindset. He just tries to make each and every one of them comfortable around him. And he tries to get insights about their background, their mindset, how they react in a given situation. And culminating all those factors, he tries and executes certain things while practicing with them, so I think that’s his strength as a coach,” Iyer said (as per the source mentioned).

“Whenever he gives you a point, or whenever he tries to improve something in your skills, he won’t be bent on changing your technique or anything. He’d let you be yourself. And he’d let you enjoy the sport more than thinking or to think too much about a particular point And that’s one of the best things about him that makes him a bit different from other coaches,” Iyer concluded.

BCCI’s decision to bring in Sitanshu Kotak as additional batting coach indicates uncertainty for Abhishek Nayar’s position. Nayar’s future as India’s assistant coach could be influenced by the team’s performance in the upcoming ODI series against England and the 2025 Champions Trophy.

Read also: IPL 2025: Shreyas Iyer reveals everything about getting kicked out of KKR