Prithvi Shaw named Maharashtra captain [Source: X]Prithvi Shaw has been amidst turmoil in both his personal and professional life. The cricketer from Maharashtra separated from his wife a few days ago amid a worrying Duleep Trophy 2026 performance. However, luck has finally turned around for the 26-year-old.Shaw is all set to lead the Maharashtra Ranji Trophy team for their tournament opener against Services from October 11 to 14 at Palam A Stadium in Delhi.Prithvi Shaw replaces Ruturaj Gaikwad as Maharashtra captainShaw has been handed the Maharashtra captaincy, stepping in for Ruturaj Gaikwad, who will be unavailable due to his India A commitments. Gaikwad, appointed captain of India A, will lead the side in a three-match unofficial ODI series against Australia A in Puducherry. The matches are scheduled for October 6, 9 and 11, ruling Gaikwad out of Maharashtra's first Ranji Trophy fixture. Meanwhile, Arshin Kulkarni will also miss the opener as he is part of the India A setup.Also Read- Prithvi Shaw Bamboozled By Abid Mushtaq! What's His First Class Record?Shaw's appointment brings a familiar leadership figure into the Maharashtra dressing room. The right-handed batter joined the side after leaving Mumbai ahead of the 2025-26 domestic season and made an immediate impact with the bat. Prithvi Shaw scored 537 runs in 11 innings across seven matches, finishing as Maharashtra's leading run-scorer in his debut season for the team.Maharashtra will also have experienced domestic players Ankeet Bawane, Vicky Ostwal, Rajvardhan Hangargekar and Mukesh Choudhary in their squad for the Services clash. Shaw’s record as a captain in red-ball and white-ball cricketShaw's leadership experience in red-ball cricket dates back to his time with Mumbai, where he captained the side during the 2021-22 Ranji Trophy season. Under his leadership, Mumbai reached the final before finishing runners-up to Madhya Pradesh.His captaincy credentials, however, extend beyond the Ranji Trophy. Shaw famously led India to the ICC Under-19 World Cup title in 2018, guiding the team through an unbeaten campaign in New Zealand. India capped off the tournament by defeating Australia by eight wickets in the final, securing the trophy under his leadership.Prithvi Shaw has also enjoyed success in limited-overs domestic cricket. He captained Mumbai to the Vijay Hazare Trophy title and delivered a remarkable batting performance, scoring 827 runs in the tournament, including an unbeaten 227. Also Read- Most T20I Runs For India vs West Indies Till September 2026
