Prithvi Shaw delivered a strong statement to his critics by scoring a brilliant century on his debut for Maharashtra in the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament at Guru Nanak College on Tuesday. The 25-year-old opener, who made a switch from Mumbai earlier this year, reached his hundred off 122 balls, displaying remarkable composure on a tricky surface where others struggled. Shaw completed the milestone in the 44th over with a boundary, followed by a modest celebration and a hug with batting partner Siddharth Mhatre. His knock, featuring 14 fours and one six, highlighted his patience and determination as he battled uneven bounce and sharp turn.

The innings came just a day after his former Mumbai teammate Sarfaraz Khan scored a fighting ton for Mumbai against TNCA XI in the same tournament. Maharashtra, however, faltered after a strong start of 71 without loss, slipping to 86 for 4 in no time. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad was dismissed for just 1, leaving Shaw to anchor the innings and contribute more than 75% of the team’s total in the initial sessions.

This hundred holds great significance for Shaw, who was once considered a future Indian cricket star but faced a rough patch after being dropped from the Mumbai Ranji squad last season. His last appearance for Mumbai was in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in December 2024. After going unsold in the IPL 2025 auction and facing criticism regarding his form and fitness, Shaw moved to Maharashtra in search of consistent opportunities and a career revival. Earlier, Chhattisgarh had posted 252 on Day 1, powered by Sanjeet Desai’s 93 and Avnish Singh Dhaliwal’s 52.