IPL 2026: Opener Prithvi Shaw is leaving no stone unturned in his bid for a national comeback, putting in "three times more" effort as he gears up for a return to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 with Delhi Capitals (DC).
Shaw, who last represented India during the Sri Lanka tour in July 2021, has since endured a turbulent phase marked by injuries, form issues and off-field setbacks.
He even went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction, before working his way back through domestic cricket. The Mumbai batter had burst onto the international scene with a century on Test debut against the West Indies in 2018, becoming one of the youngest Indians to achieve the feat before his career took a downturn.
"I think that's why I'm playing. There's no doubt that I have to come back to the Indian team. That's why I'm working very hard. The amount of hard work I used to put in, I put in three times more today", Shaw responded to a PTI query here.
"Actually, I don't like to talk about it, but I feel that I'm giving not 100%, but 200% to come back to the Indian team, to win this trophy or to give 100% on a match day or on a practice day as well. Whatever ups and downs happened in the last few years, I took it all with a lot of respect and a smile. And obviously, it stays in my mind when I'm back. But there's only one way to do it: work hard and give your 100%. If you've made some mistakes, learn from them."
Back with Delhi Capitals after being bought for Rs 75 lakh in the auction, Shaw is treating this IPL as a reset point in his career.
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"It's always a new start. There are a lot of memories, but since it's history now, it can't be repeated. It's a fresh start, a fresh team and a few new players. I was not there last year, and I'm joining again this year. I've always believed in myself. My family has supported me. I'm not the type of person who thinks a lot. It's all about the present for me."