Prithvi Shaw, the erstwhile Indian opener, posted a mysterious Instagram story on May 14, 2025, saying that he "needs a break" days ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 resumption on May 17. The IPL was postponed on May 9 due to tensions along the India-Pakistan border, but a ceasefire deal has opened the door for the resumption of the league, with the last now planned for June 3. Shaw's career has been stuck in limbo after going unsold at the IPL 2025 mega auction with a base price of Rs 75 lakh; he last played competitive cricket in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in December 2024, where he had a poor time, getting two ducks in four innings.

Shaw's career has been plagued by ongoing fitness problems and poor form, resulting in him being left out of the Mumbai team for the Vijay Hazare and Ranji Trophy tournaments. Once a prodigy after making a Test century on debut in 2018, the 25-year-old's recent form has been poor, hurting his chances of a national recall. Punjab Kings (PBKS) ace Shashank Singh, who has played with Shaw for Mumbai, recently included him in the list of possible future openers for India, along with Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal, but hinted Shaw must change his work ethic, including sleep patterns and diet, to revive his career.

Overlooked Amid IPL Replacements

Even as IPL teams go all out in search of replacements in the wake of injuries and player withdrawals—Rajasthan Royals losing Jofra Archer and Chennai Super Kings losing Sam Curran, for instance—Prithvi Shaw's name is never mentioned, sparking questions why he's being left behind. Franchises such as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are struggling with overseas player shortages themselves, but Shaw, a domestic prospect with previous IPL experience of 1892 runs in 79 games, has not been under consideration, perhaps because his fitness has been a worry and his current form has not been great.

Prithvi Shaw Instagram Story #IPL2025 pic.twitter.com/jrOwH2Tx0h

— Raja (@_raja_kumar) May 14, 2025

Also Read: IPL 2025: Good News for RCB fans as star player marks his confirmation for reminder of tournament

Shaw's puzzling post has led fans to question his mental health and cricketing future as well as whether the break signals either a step back or a possible return. With the IPL 2025 following a break, there will still be time to see if Shaw can navigate his way around and prove himself capable of competitive cricket, or if he will continue to drift out of the limelight.