Indian opening batter Prithvi Shaw is not expected to be approved by the National Cricket Academy (NCA) to play in the 2024 Ranji Trophy for Mumbai, as reported by CricketNext.
Shaw, who has been inactive since August 2023 due to a knee injury sustained while fielding in England’s county competition, showcased impressive form, including a historic List A double hundred with Northamptonshire.
Due to his injury, the opening batter was absent from India’s white-ball domestic competitions. It appears that he will also be unable to participate in the upcoming red-ball domestic tournament.
Although he has resumed batting in the nets at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), the 24-year-old has been cautious about his return, sharing glimpses of his sessions on social media. However, the coaches at the NCA are exercising caution and prefer not to rush Shaw back into the demanding environment of four-day red-ball matches.
“Prithvi Shaw has been in the NCA for months now, doing rehab and following all the necessary recovery protocols. It is safe to say that he is batting normally in the nets but is still a bit far from getting clearance to play competitive cricket again.”
”As of now, it looks very unlikely that he will play the Ranji Trophy,” a source close to the cricketer said (via News 18).
“It is highly unlikely that NCA will give clearance to play Ranji Trophy directly. No one wants him to have a breakdown after such a long rehab programme, so it’s a rather safe approach to have him back in a shorter format.”
”By then, there will be enough time to put the body through match simulations and other high-intensity drills,” the source added.
The player’s potential for a Return to Play (RTP) clearance might have been taken into account if it were a short-format tournament rather than the Ranji Trophy. Consequently, his likely comeback could be anticipated in the upcoming 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) while playing for the Delhi Capitals (DC).
Prithvi Shaw’s most recent appearance for India was during the 2021 tour of Sri Lanka
Prithvi Shaw’s once-promising career has hit a roadblock due to inconsistency and off-field issues. The young player faced a suspension from the BCCI in 2019 after testing positive for a banned substance. After featuring in a few matches during Team India’s 2021 tour of Sri Lanka, he had a hiatus from the team.
Despite a successful domestic campaign in 2022-23, including a career-best score of 379 in the Ranji Trophy, Shaw’s recall for the home T20I series against New Zealand in early 2023 did not translate into significant opportunities.
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