Prithvi Shaw Omitted from Mumbai's Vijay Hazare Trophy Squad for Opening Matches
Prithvi Shaw has been notably left out of Mumbai's squad for the opening three matches of the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy season, as announced on Tuesday. Despite an impressive record with an average of 55.72 and a strike rate of 125.74 in 65 List A matches, Shaw's exclusion has raised eyebrows, especially after his key contribution to Mumbai's recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy victory.
In response to the omission, Shaw expressed his frustration on social media, posting: "Tell me god, what more do I have to see...if 65 innings, 3399 runs at an average of 55.7 with a strike rate of 126, I'm not good enough...but I will keep my faith in you and hopefully people believe in me still...cause I will come back for sure. Om Sai Ram."
While Shaw’s exclusion has sparked a conversation, Mumbai captain Shreyas Iyer had previously highlighted Shaw’s immense talent, urging him to focus on improving his work ethics for greater success. Iyer mentioned, "He needs to improve his work ethics, and if he does that, sky's the limit for him."
Instead of Shaw, the selectors have placed their trust in 17-year-old uncapped talent Ayush Mhatre, who was recently part of India's Under-19 squad. He will compete for the opening slot alongside Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Jay Bista.
Notably, Ajinkya Rahane, who was named Player of the Tournament in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, has requested rest for personal reasons. Pacer Mohit Awasthi, recovering from an injury, is also absent from the squad.
Other key exclusions include all-rounder Shams Mulani, who had been dropped mid-tournament during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and veteran all-rounder Siddhesh Lad, who makes his return to the Mumbai 50-over squad after a two-year gap. Left-arm spinner Vinayak Bhoir also makes a comeback to Mumbai’s List A side after a six-year hiatus.
The 17-member squad, led by Shreyas Iyer, also includes promising uncapped players like Suryansh Shedge, Juned Khan, and Harsh Tanna, adding fresh talent to Mumbai's lineup for the competition.
