Ruturaj Gaikwad’s heartwarming gesture for Prithvi Shaw after Ranji masterclass – Watch | Cricket News
Ruturaj Gaikwad shared his Player of the Match award with Prithvi Shaw, recognising the latter’s breathtaking 222-run knock that powered Maharashtra to a commanding win over Chandigarh in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26. It was a gesture that perfectly reflected sportsmanship, respect, and team spirit. Maharashtra’s captain led from the front once again, scoring a fluent 116 in the first innings and following it up with an unbeaten 36 in the second. His consistency earned him the Player of the Match award, but in a heartwarming moment, Gaikwad decided the honour was incomplete without his teammate. Prithvi Shaw, who had managed only eight runs in the first innings, came back roaring in the second. What followed was a masterclass in strokeplay with an explosive 222 off just 156 balls, featuring 29 fours and five sixes. It was the kind of knock that reminded everyone of Shaw’s prodigious talent, played at a strike rate of 142.30 that left Chandigarh gasping. For Shaw, the innings was more than just runs. It was redemption. After a difficult 2024-25 season where he was dropped from the Mumbai squad due to fitness and disciplinary issues, Shaw made a fresh start with Maharashtra. Since his move, he has looked determined to rebuild his career. Despite a duck in his debut innings for his new team, Shaw quickly found form with a gritty 75 against Kerala. Four innings into the season, he has already piled up 305 runs at an average of 76.25, including a double hundred and a fifty. These numbers reflect a player hungry to prove a point. As the Maharashtra Cricket Association later shared on social media, Gaikwad called Shaw over to share the medal. Both players smiled as they posed together. It was a small but powerful symbol of unity, with a captain acknowledging his teammate’s brilliance and effort.Click here to watch the video. Maharashtra’s 144-run win over Chandigarh was a collective effort, but the performances of Gaikwad and Shaw stood out. Gaikwad’s reliability across both innings and Shaw’s explosive flair complemented each other perfectly, setting the tone for the team’s season. The victory has also boosted Maharashtra’s campaign in the ongoing Ranji Trophy and reignited the spark in Shaw’s domestic career. His move from Mumbai to Maharashtra already looks like a turning point, one that could mark the beginning of a new chapter for the 25-year-old.
