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'Fitness Isn't About Zero Body Fat': Sunil Gavaskar Defends Prithvi Shaw After Ranji Trophy Snub

Jatin

Sunil Gavaskar has come out in Support of Prithvi Shaw [Source: @ahadfoooty, @academy_dinda/x.com]Sunil Gavaskar has come out in Support of Prithvi Shaw [Source: @ahadfoooty, @academy_dinda/x.com]

The prodigious Prithvi Shaw, once touted as the next big thing in Indian batting, recently found himself in a controversy yet again. The right-handed opener who has represented the country in five Tests, six ODIs, and one T20I, was recently left out of Mumbai's Ranji Trophy squad to take on Tripura.

If reports are anything to go by, he has been axed owing to issues regarding his fitness as well as discipline. However, amidst all this chaos, Shaw has found support from none other than the legendary Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar.

Gavaskar Lends Words of Support To Shaw

Sources suggest Shaw has been inconsistent in training, and as far as overall fitness is concerned, it has raised serious concerns. Moreover, his body fat percentage is suspected to be "35% above the acceptable limit." It's assumed that Shaw's off-field discipline and on-field focus have been on thin ice, leading to his exclusion from the squad.

Never one to mince words, Gavaskar wrote an emotional column in Mid-Day on Shaw's situation. While acknowledging that issues like attitude and discipline must be addressed, he hoped fitness wasn’t the sole factor behind Shaw's omission.

"If it's about his attitude, approach and discipline, then it's understandable, but hopefully, it has nothing to do with his weight, as one report seems to have suggested. That report suggested that he had 35 percent more body fat,” wrote Gavaskar.

Drawing Parallels With Sarfaraz Khan

Gavaskar cited the example of another Mumbai talent, Sarfaraz Khan, whose physique has also come under public scrutiny. Despite the criticism, Sarfaraz showcased his brilliance with a stunning 150 against New Zealand in Bengaluru, proving that cricket fitness is not about six-pack abs, but about the ability to grind it out in the middle.

“It's whether you can score 150-plus runs and that too bat for a whole day or bowl 20-plus overs in a day. That should be the only criteria of a player's fitness," Gavaskar asserted.

Batting talent has never been an issue with Shaw. Gavaskar pointed out that body fat percentage doesn’t dictate talent, highlighting Shaw’s iconic knock of 379 in domestic cricket.

"How many players with zero per cent or minimal body fat have scored 379 like Prithvi Shaw? I rest my case about fitness," Gavaskar concluded.

If Shaw's exclusion is seen as a wake-up call, Gavaskar's words offer some silver lining for the embattled opener. Now, it is up to Shaw to pull up his socks and let his bat do the talking.