'He just has to focus on his...everything else will follow': Shreyas Iyer's massive advice for Prithvi Shaw ahead of Mumbai's Ranji Trophy clash

Star India batter Shreyas Iyer has offered an advice for the out-of-favour Prithvi Shaw. While heaping praise on Prithvi Shaw's natural talent and his exceptional timing and ability to score runs quickly, Shreyas Iyer advised the former to focus on his work ethics. However, Iyer stressed on the importance of work ethic for Shaw's future success and potential return to the highest level of cricket.

Prithvi Shaw, once considered a rising star, is currently sitting on the sidelines of cricket. Off-field controversies and concerns regarding his fitness have hugely impacted his progress. Instances of off-field altercations and visible unfitness during matches have drawn criticism from experts and raised concerns about his commitment to the game.

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Shreyas Iyer's advice for Prithvi Shaw

Iyer previously emphasised the importance of individual responsibility and the need for players to prioritize their work ethic. He has stated that players cannot be constantly monitored and must take ownership of their careers.

Iyer said that Shaw started his career on a great note and he has got a great blessing of timing the ball and scoring runs at a great pace, all he needs to do is focus on his work ethic and everything else will follow.

"Prithvi Shaw also started on a great note. He’s got a great blessing of timing the ball and scoring runs at a great pace. And all of us in the team feel that he is blessed with that phenomenal talent. So, he just has to focus on his work ethic and everything else will follow," Iyer said while speaking to The Indian Express.

Shaw is currently working on his fitness and aiming to make a strong comeback to competitive cricket. He was recently spotted at the 50th-anniversary celebrations of the Wankhede Stadium. While an official confirmation is awaited, it is highly likely that Shaw will be sidelined for Mumbai's upcoming Ranji Trophy matches.

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Shaw last played in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy last month, which Mumbai successfully won. However, he was absent from the Vijay Hazare Trophy. A Mumbai Cricket Association official revealed that the team was effectively "hiding" Shaw due to concerns about his fitness. The official further emphasized this point by stating that they were forced to field with only 10 players during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, subtly highlighting Shaw's perceived lack of fitness and his exclusion from the playing eleven.

Meanwhile, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has announced a 17-member squad for the upcoming Ranji Trophy match against Jammu and Kashmir, commencing on January 23rd. Notably, Indian captain Rohit Sharma and promising young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal have been included in the squad. Ajinkya Rahane will lead the team in this encounter.

Mumbai squad:

Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ayush Mhatre, Shreyas Iyer, Siddhesh Lad, Shivam Dube, Hardik Tamore (wk), Akash Anand (wk), Tanush Kotian, Shams Mulani, Himanshu Singh, Shardul Thakur, Mohit Awasthi, Sylvester Dsouza, Royston Dias, Karsh Kothari.