![Prithvi Shaw for DC [Source: X and Screengrabs]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1778514181532_PrithviShawforDC.jpg?type=hq)
Prithvi Shaw for DC [Source: X and Screengrabs]
Prithvi Shaw, once a destructive opener for the Delhi Capitals, has been benched for the franchise's concluding games in IPL 2026, and the internet is not happy about it.
Shaw, who was roped in by Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026, has been on the sidelines since his difficult three seasons between 2022 and 2024.
Most importantly, Shaw hasn't got much opportunity to show his might with the bat for the past two years, which has further frustrated the fans.
Significantly, during the DC vs PBKS clash on May 11 at Dharamsala, Delhi made five changes to their playing eleven and yet Prithvi Shaw was not called in, which marked him absent from any of the IPL 2026 matches.
DC Call In Multiple Changes, Finds No Place For Prithvi Shaw
In the match, Abhishek Porel, Sahil Parikh, David Miller, Madhav Tiwari, and Auqib Nabi came in to replace players like Nitish Rana, Pathum Nissanka, and Sameer Rizvi, yet Prithvi's comeback wasn't on the cards.
Prithvi Shaw last played the Ranji Trophy for Maharashtra, where he impressed with an average of 48.82. He had three half-centuries to his name in the tournament while also bagging a double century off 150 deliveries.
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In the shorter format, at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he boasted a decent strike rate of 160.53, but wasn't super impressive.
However, his decent form almost called for a chance that DC could have given to the batter who once dominated the playing field in 2021 with a mammoth strike rate of 159.13 and an average of 31.93 from just 15 matches.
The internet reacted strongly to this as Shaw lost a chance to feature in IPL 2026:
The Downfall Of Shaw In Cricket And Career
Prithvi Shaw once seemed destined to lead India's next generation. He smashed a century on his Test debut as an 18-year-old, and people naturally called him a child prodigy. But within a few years, that bright promise dissolved into a string of painful setbacks.
The trouble began quietly in late 2018, when an ankle injury on the Australia tour ruled him out of the series. A few months later, he tested positive for a banned substance found in a cough syrup he had taken without asking the team doctor.
Shaw Lost The Spot And The Spark
When he returned, his technique was brutally exposed in a Test match in Australia in December 2020. He got out cheaply in both innings, looking completely out of depth against quality fast bowling.
He lost his spot and hasn’t worn the Test cap since. The cricketing world expected him to fight back, but his next battle was with his own body.
In 2022, he failed a mandatory fitness test at the National Cricket Academy, falling well short of the required score.
By late 2024, his home cricket association in Mumbai lost patience. They dropped him from the Ranji Trophy squad, citing poor fitness and irregular attendance. Reports said his body fat had crossed 35 per cent, a number almost unheard of for a professional athlete.
The final commercial blow landed at the IPL 2025 mega auction. With a modest base price, Prithvi Shaw put his name forward, expecting at least one franchise to take a chance on him. No paddle went up.
Shaw’s Admission Didn’t Make The Cut For DC in IPL 2026
By mid-2025, Shaw finally spoke with raw honesty. He admitted he’d made wrong friends, lost focus on his training, and drifted away from the discipline that had made him special. He left Mumbai and joined Maharashtra, hoping for a clean slate.
As Delhi have already been eliminated from IPL 2026, they still have to finish the league stage as mandated. However, benching Shaw and not testing their strength for next season was an underwhelming move for the DC franchise.
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