Prithvi Shaw
The teenager who scored a Test century on debut and captained India to U19 World Cup glory.
Prithvi Shaw is an Indian cricketer who has represented the national team across all formats and currently plays for Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League. Born on November 9, 1999, in Virar, Maharashtra, he rose to prominence as a right-handed opening batter after captaining India to victory in the 2018 U19 Cricket World Cup. His domestic career began with Mumbai before his move to Maharashtra in 2025 following contract disputes. Shaw made headlines early by becoming the second-youngest Indian, after Sachin Tendulkar, to score a Test century and the youngest to do so on debut.
- Role
- Opening Batsman
- Debut Season
- 2016-17 (First-Class)
- Franchise
- Delhi Capitals (formerly Delhi Daredevils)
- Key Record
- Youngest Indian to score a Test century on debut
- Batting Hand
- Right-handed
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Shaw's journey from Virar to international stardom is marked by explosive domestic records. In November 2013, playing for Rizvi Springfield High School, he smashed an incredible 546 runs off 330 balls in a Harris Shield match, the highest score in Indian schools cricket until 2016 and currently the fourth-highest in any organized form of cricket since 1901. This innings, lasting over six hours with 85 fours and five sixes, came just days after Sachin Tendulkar's retirement, earning Shaw the moniker 'Master's Apprentice.'
His first-class debut for Mumbai on January 1, 2017, in the Ranji Trophy semi-finals was equally historic. He scored a century in the second innings to earn man of the match honors. Later that year, he equalled Sachin Tendulkar's record by scoring a century in his debut Duleep Trophy match. Shaw also captained Mumbai to finals in both the 2020-21 Vijay Hazare Trophy and the 2021-22 Ranji Trophy.
In Their Own Story
On October 4, 2018, just days after his 19th birthday, Prithvi Shaw walked out to bat against the West Indies in his first Test match. Aged 18 years and 319 days, he became the youngest Indian to score a century on Test debut, cementing a legacy that saw him named Player of the Series as India won by ten wickets. His international ascent was rapid; he had made his first international appearance only a year prior at age 18. In the IPL, Shaw's impact was immediate after being bought by Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) for ₹1.2 crores in January 2018. On April 23, 2018, he became the youngest player to open batting in IPL history at age 18 years and 165 days. Two days later, on April 27, he scored his maiden IPL fifty against Kolkata Knight Riders, becoming the joint-youngest player to reach that milestone with Sanju Samson. His aggressive style continued to define him; on April 29, 2021, he became only the second player in IPL history to hit six boundaries in a single over, clearing Shivam Mavi for six fours. His career faced turbulence in July 2019 when he was suspended by the BCCI for a doping violation until November of that year. Later, personal challenges emerged in February 2023 during an affray at a nightclub involving YouTuber Sapna Gill, who followed and vandalized his vehicle. Despite these hurdles and reduced practice hours admitted in June 2025, Shaw remains motivated to revive his career with support from teammates like Rishabh Pant.
Reader's Guide
Prithvi Shaw's domestic dominance is highlighted by specific records that define his career trajectory. In February 2021, while playing for Mumbai against Pondicherry in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he scored an unbeaten double-century of 227 runs off just 152 balls. This remains the best individual score in the tournament's history, and he amassed 827 runs that season, the most by any batsman in a single campaign. In the Ranji Trophy, Shaw posted another massive figure on January 12, 2023, scoring 379 against Assam. This stands as the second-highest first-class score by an Indian player, behind only B. B. Nimbalkar of Maharashtra. His transition to Maharashtra in 2025 yielded immediate results; he scored a century (111 off 141 balls) on his debut in the Buchi Babu Invitational Trophy in Chennai. However, his official Ranji debut for the new state saw a contrasting start: a four-ball duck against Kerala followed by an aggressive 75 in the second innings. Later that season against Chandigarh, he struck a rapid 222 off just 156 balls in the second innings, the third-fastest double-century in Ranji Trophy history, securing a vital victory where his teammate Gaikwad shared the Man of the Match honors.
Did You Know?
- Shaw scored 546 runs in a single Harris Shield match in November 2013, the highest score by any batsman in organized cricket since 1901 at that time.
- He is the only player to equal Sachin Tendulkar's record of scoring a century in his debut matches for both the Ranji Trophy and the Duleep Trophy.
- In June 2025, Shaw admitted to reduced practice hours but showed improved form in the Mumbai T20 League after going unsold in the IPL 2025 auction.
- Shaw was suspended by the BCCI from July to November 2019 for a doping violation.
- He hit six boundaries in a single over against Shivam Mavi on April 29, 2021, becoming only the second player in IPL history to achieve this feat.