We can't babysit, Shaw needs to improve his work ethics: Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer, under whom Mumbai won the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024, feels Prithvi Shaw is a “god-gifted player” but needs to “improve his work ethics” if he wants to return back to his best. A combination of his dwindling returns, fitness, and off-field discipline issues have put Shaw way behind in the pecking order. The opener also went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction.

In SMAT 2024, where Mumbai defeated Madhya Pradesh by five wickets to win their second title, Shaw scored 197 runs at an average of 21.88 and a strike rate of 156.34. The right-hander managed a couple of fiery cameos but couldn’t hit a single half-century.

"I think personally he is a god-gifted player. The amount of talent he possesses as an individual, no one has it. It's just that he needs to improve his work ethics," said Iyer.

"He needs to get his work ethics right. And if he does that, sky's the limit for him. We can't babysit anyone, right? He has played so much of cricket. Everyone has given him inputs. 

"At the end of the day, it's his job to figure out things for himself. And he has also done it in the past. It's not that he hasn't. He has to focus. He has to sit back, put a thinking cap on. He will get the answer by himself. No one can force him to do anything."

Talking about Ajinkya Rahane, who smashed 469 runs in eight innings at an average of 58.62 and a strike rate of 164.56 and emerged as the leading run-getter, Iyer said: “He is that sort of a character who will give 110% for the team. 

“He started at number 4, where he knew that there were two openers. So, he sacrificed his position and then after that when Surya came in, he became an opener. So he is a fantastic team-man. But irrespective, salute to him, the way he approached each and every game, match by match. I am a firm believer of someone who has a certain type of routine and he is one of them.”

Iyer, who himself slammed 345 runs @ 49.28 and a strike rate of 188.52, also heaped heavy praise on some of the young players in the Mumbai set-up. Suryansh Shedge, in particular, finished three games for Mumbai, including the final. The all-rounder ended the competition with the highest strike rate (251.92) amongst batters who faced at least 20 deliveries.

"All the youngsters who have come up and the way they showcase their talent is simply phenomenal. You should see their character and their approach outside the dressing room and also on the field,” said Iyer.

"They're fearless in their approach and this is the kind of players we need to back. And for me personally, whenever I go out there I want to win. It doesn't matter who we play, winning is something that makes me feel happy and it is everything for me.”

(Image credit - JioCinema)

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