Prithvi Shaw’s move to Maharashtra already seems to be paying off. The 25-year-old opener, who has been searching for a fresh start after a rough couple of years, announced his arrival in style by smashing a blistering 222 off just 156 balls against Chandigarh in the Ranji Trophy. His innings included a century in just 72 balls, the sixth-fastest in the tournament’s history, and a double century in 141 balls, the third-fastest in Ranji Trophy history at the Elite or Zonal level.

Shaw’s statement knock in new chapter

There was something personal about the way Shaw batted. Coming off an IPL snub earlier this year and a period of inconsistency, this was a reminder of the talent that once had Indian cricket buzzing. He punished Chandigarh’s bowlers with ruthless intent, racing from 100 to 200 in no time, timing everything cleanly and finding the boundary at will.

After being dismissed for a duck against Kerala in the 1st innings of the Round 1 match, he scored a half-century in the 2nd innings to make up for his lapse. Shaw’s hundred against Chandigarh marked his first in 20 months.

Prithvi Shaw sought a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Mumbai Cricket Association (NOC) and joined state rivals Maharashtra earlier this year. His case is an intriguing one, as Shaw rose to the scene with immense hype after he took India to a famous Under-19 ODI World Cup win in 2018. However, unlike Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma and Riyan Parag, who were also part of that Under-19 team, Shaw’s international career never took off.

Great gesture by Ruturaj Gaikwad

Ruturaj Gaikwad, meanwhile, played the perfect captain’s hand earlier in the match, anchoring Maharashtra’s first innings with a composed 116. Maharashtra were in all sorts of trouble, losing four wickets within the morning session on Day 1. Then came a stablising innings from the captain, who continued his great run of form.

His century helped the team hammer 313 and gain a crucial lead before Shaw’s fireworks took over later. But it was what Gaikwad did after the match that truly stood out. Gaikwad shared his Player of the Match award with Shaw. Shared by the official social media account of the Maharashtra Cricket Association, it was a small but heartfelt gesture. It said a lot about dressing-room harmony and mutual respect between two top-order batters who are part of the same dressing room from not very long