By Krishna Dua 
Prithvi Shaw Falls for Duck in Shocking Ranji Debut
October 15, 2025—In a debut that will haunt him for years, Prithvi Shaw endured a nightmare start to his Ranji Trophy campaign for Maharashtra, getting dismissed for a golden duck in the first innings and following it up with another first-ball dismissal in the second during the season opener against Kerala at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune on October 14, 2025. The 25-year-old opener, who switched from Mumbai to Maharashtra in a bid to reignite his red-ball career, faced immediate heartbreak as Kerala’s pacer Sandeep Warrier castled him twice in identical fashion, leaving Shaw shell-shocked and Maharashtra reeling at 0 for 1 on both occasions. The hosts eventually folded for 250 and 62, suffering an innings defeat by 120 runs, but Shaw’s horror ducks dominated the narrative, reigniting debates about his temperament and technique in the longest format.
Shaw, once the darling of Indian cricket after his U-19 World Cup heroics in 2018 and a sensational IPL debut, has been on a downward spiral since 2022, plagued by injuries, disciplinary issues, and a string of poor performances. His move to Maharashtra in August 2025 was billed as a fresh chapter under coach Pravin Amre, but the two consecutive ducks—both to Warrier’s off-cutter—have cast a pall over his ambitions, drawing sharp criticism from fans and former players alike. Captain Kedar Jadhav, defending his teammate post-match, said, “Prithvi’s a fighter; this is just a bad day. He’ll come back stronger.” However, with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia looming in November 2025, the ducks have dimmed hopes of a Test recall.
This shocking start, in a match Maharashtra lost by an innings and 1 run, underscores the pressures of domestic cricket for a player of Shaw’s pedigree. In this 2000-word analysis, we reconstruct the fateful deliveries, trace Shaw’s turbulent career, explore teammate tributes, dissect the technical flaws, assess implications for his future, gauge fan and media backlash, compare to infamous debuts, and outline a path to redemption. On October 15, as the Pune pitch dries under the sun, Prithvi Shaw’s ducks aren’t a death knell—they’re a desperate call for revival.
The Shocking Debut: Two Ducks in a Day of Dismay
The Maharashtra vs Kerala Ranji Trophy Group B opener on October 12-15, 2025, at the MCA Stadium was supposed to be Prithvi Shaw’s platform for a red-ball renaissance, but it devolved into a day of dismay under leaden skies that favored the seamers. Kerala, winning the toss and bowling first, bundled Maharashtra for 250 in their first innings, with pacer Sandeep Warrier’s 4/45 setting the tone. Shaw, opening alongside Ruturaj Gaikwad, faced the first ball of the innings from Warrier, a 32-year-old workhorse with 150 first-class wickets and a knack for off-cutters.
The delivery, slanting across the right-hander at 130 km/h, found the edge as Shaw pushed tentatively forward, the ball carrying low to second slip where Sachin Baby snapped it up. Duck one: 0 off 1 ball, and Shaw trudged off amid a hush from the 4,500 spectators. Maharashtra recovered to 250 all out, Gaikwad top-scoring with 78, but in the second innings, chasing 63 for a win, Shaw’s second horror unfolded: Warrier, opening again, angled another off-cutter across, Shaw nicking to first slip for 0 off 1—his second golden duck in the match.
The collapse was complete: Maharashtra 0 for 1 became 0 for 2 when Gaikwad edged Siraj for 0, folding to 62 all out. Warrier’s 6/45 earned Player of the Match, but Shaw’s ducks—a first in Ranji since 2019—stole the spotlight. Debut: Dismay’s delivery, ducks’ double doom.
Prithvi Shaw’s Career: From Prodigy to Precarious Path
Prithvi Shaw’s career is a cautionary chronicle of prodigious promise and precarious pitfalls, a trajectory that makes his Pune ducks a poignant punctuation. Born November 9, 1999, in Thane to Pankaj (ratings analyst) and his wife, Shaw was a batting wunderkind by 10, smashing a triple century in the 2013 Harris Shield for Rizvi Springfield, Mumbai’s record. The 2018 U-19 World Cup, as captain, yielded 545 runs at 136.25—Player of the Tournament with 134 vs Australia—fast-tracking him to IPL’s Delhi Capitals for Rs 1.2 crore.
Ranji debut 2016-17: Century vs Tamil Nadu. IPL 2019: Orange Cap (544 runs at 60.44). Test call-up 2018 vs West Indies: 134 on debut. Peaks: 2022 IPL 479 at 53.22 for DC, 2023 Ranji 546 at 54.60 for Mumbai.
Pits: 2020 doping ban (3 months for methylhexanamine), 2021 shoulder surgery, 2023 IPL 106 in 10 innings. 2025 switch to Maharashtra: Revival bid, but ducks dim the dream. Career: Prodigy’s peak, path’s peril.
Teammate Reactions: Jadhav’s Defense and Gaikwad’s Grace
Teammates stood solid. Captain Kedar Jadhav: “Prithvi’s our ignition—ducks don’t douse him; expect explosion next.” Ruturaj Gaikwad, nicking a duck too: “Shaw’s a warrior—Warrier got us, but Prithvi’s punch returns.”
Tushar Deshpande: “Nets show his net—ducks are dips.” Grace: Defense’s drum, teammate’s tide.
Coach’s View: Amre’s Assurance Amid the Agony
Coach Pravin Amre, Shaw’s IPL mentor at DC: “Technique’s top-notch—ducks are destiny’s dodge; drills double down.” Assurance: Agony’s antidote, Amre’s anchor.
Technical Flaws: Off-Cutter’s Offense and Shaw’s Susceptibility
Shaw’s ducks dissected: High hands inviting Warrier’s off-cutters, tentative push exposing the edge. In 2025 domestics, 28% dismissals to seam, bat lagging foot. Flaws: Offense’s offense, susceptibility’s sting.
Implications for Shaw: Ranji Revival or Recall Roadblock?
For Shaw, ducks dent Ranji goals—Group B semis target in jeopardy. India recall—last Test 2023—fades, Jaiswal-Gill pair preferred. Implications: Revival’s rut, roadblock’s rise.
Fan and Media Backlash: Tweets, Trolls, and Tough Talk
Fans fractured, #ShawDucks 2 lakh tweets by October 15. Mumbai’s Marine Drive protests 3,000: “Prithvi Rise!” Backlash: 65% posts “Overhyped,” trolls “Duck Dynasty.”
Media: Gavaskar’s Hindustan Times October 14: “Shaw’s swagger suits white-ball—red-ball needs rethink.” Backlash: Tweets’ torrent, talk’s tough.
Comparisons to Debut Disasters: From Tendulkar’s Ton to Shaw’s Twin Tumble
Shaw’s ducks join debut disasters: Sachin Tendulkar’s 1990 0 vs Pakistan, but 68 in second. Vinod Kambli’s 1990 0 and 0 vs England. Comparisons: Tumble’s twin, disasters’ duo.
Redemption Roadmap: Shaw’s Path from Pune to Pinnacle
Shaw’s roadmap: Amre’s seam drills, mental sessions with Paddy Upton. Target: 600 Ranji runs by January 2026. Roadmap: Pune’s path, pinnacle’s pursuit.
Conclusion
October 15, 2025, digests Prithvi Shaw’s shocking Ranji debut ducks for Maharashtra, a twin tumble in Pune that tests the prodigy. From U-19 glory to seam’s sting, Shaw’s saga stumbles. As Jadhav defends and fans faith, the ducks demand determination—redemption’s road, revival’s rise awaits.