Prithvi Shaw showed glimpses of returning to form with a blistering 49 in the quarter-final of the Syed Mushataq Ali Trophy for Mumbai against Vidarbha. Prithvi was at his brutal best with the bat, leading Mumbai’s chase of 222 in the quarter-final match at the Alur Cricket Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday, December 11.
Heading into the quarterfinal after a six-day break, Prithvi Shaw looked refreshed and relaxed as he tore into the Vidarbha bowling attack. The Mumbai opener smashed four sixes and five boundaries to set a good platform for Mumbai’s steep chase. Shaw did all the damage in the powerplay and missed out on a well-deserved fifty by just one run. He was dismissed by Vidarbha fast bowler Dipesh Parwani for 49 off 26 balls in the seventh over.
Prithvi Shaw and Ajinkya Rahane added 83 runs for the opening partnership in just 42 balls, setting the tone for the remainder of the Mumbai chase.
It was the first time Prithvi went past the 40-run mark in the ongoing edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, India’s premier domestic T20 tournament. Shaw had managed 130 runs in six innings before Wednesday’s quarter-final.
The 25-year-old Indian opener went unsold in the IPL auction, contrary to expectations. His former franchise Delhi Capitals did not opt to retain him ahead of the mega auction. When his name came up for bidding, none of the teams were interested in the young batter, who was once considered the next big thing of Indian cricket.
Delhi Capitals’ co-owner Parth Jindal, while speaking to India Today, said the IPL snub is a much-needed jolt for Prithvi.
“Prithvi is a great kid. He is misunderstood in many ways. And I think all of us growing up need a jolt and need to be shaken up from our slumber. There are times when I even needed that jolt,” he said.
DUBE, SHEDGE POWER MUMBAI INTO SEMIS
On Wednesday, Mumbai successfully chased down 222 and stormed their way into the semi-final. After Prithvi fell for 49, Rahane kicked on and hit a match-winning 84 off 45 balls, smashing three sixes and 10 boundaries.
However, Mumbai faced a middle-overs dip when Shreyas Iyer (5) and Suryakumar Yadav (9) only to be rescued by Shivam Dube and Suryansh Shedge. The duo added an unbeaten tally of 67 runs in just 25 balls, giving Mumbai the much-needed late impetus.
Shivam Dube hit a six and two boundaries for his 22-ball 37 not out while Shegde, who was signed by Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 auction, smashed 36 from just 12 balls.
Brief Scores: Mumbai (224 for 4 in 19.2 overs) beat Vidarbha (221/6) in the quarter-final in Alur. Rahane (89), Shaw (49), Shedge (36); Dipesh (3/33)