Prithvi Shaw has been omitted from Mumbai's squad for the first three rounds of the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy, which begins on December 21. The decision, announced on Tuesday, comes just days after Mumbai's victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where they defeated Madhya Pradesh to claim the T20 domestic crown.

The exclusion of Shaw, a former India opener, has raised eyebrows, particularly as it follows a series of performances that have raised questions about his current form and fitness levels. Shaw, who had a disappointing run in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, scoring just 197 runs in nine innings with a highest score of 49, has struggled to find consistency in recent times. His omission from Mumbai's squad marks a continuation of a challenging period for the talented batsman, who was also left out of Mumbai's Ranji Trophy squad in October due to fitness and disciplinary issues.

On the other hand, Ajinkya Rahane, who was a standout performer in the T20 competition, has been rested following a personal request for a break. Rahane made 469 runs in eight innings during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at a strike rate of 164.56, including five half-centuries, playing a crucial role in Mumbai’s title win.

Mumbai’s 17-member squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy features Shreyas Iyer, who continues as captain, and key players such as Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, and Shardul Thakur. The squad also sees the return of opener Ayush Mhatre, who missed the domestic T20 competition due to his participation in India's Under-19 Asia Cup squad.

Shaw, who took to social media to express his frustration over his exclusion, shared his List A stats in an Instagram story. In his post, Shaw questioned his omission despite impressive statistics, which include 65 List A innings, 3,399 runs at an average of 55.7, and a strike rate of 126. "Tell me God, what more do I have to see… if 65 innings, 3399 runs at an average of 55.7 with a strike rate of 126, I'm not good enough… but I will keep my faith in you and hopefully people believe in me still… cause I will come back for sure. Om Sai Ram," Shaw wrote.

The exclusion comes amid mounting concerns over Shaw's work ethic and fitness. In a recent interview, Mumbai captain Shreyas Iyer suggested that Shaw needs to "get his work ethics right" in order to unlock his full potential. Iyer emphasized that players at the professional level need to be self-driven and disciplined. "We can't babysit anyone, right? Every professional who is playing at this level, they need to know what they should be doing. 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, [and] put a thinking cap on, and then figure out himself," Iyer said after Mumbai’s victory in the SMA Trophy.

Shaw’s exclusion has sparked a broader conversation about the importance of fitness and discipline in domestic cricket. Despite receiving support from cricketing figures like Greg Chappell and Kevin Pietersen, Shaw's struggles to meet the required standards in these areas continue to be a point of concern for selectors and team management.

Meanwhile, Baroda will also face challenges in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy, as Hardik Pandya will miss the initial rounds due to workload management ahead of India's upcoming international fixtures, including the Champions Trophy. Pandya played a key role in Baroda’s semi-final run in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, contributing 246 runs in seven matches with a blistering strike rate of 193.70 and also taking six wickets in 19 overs.

As the Vijay Hazare Trophy approaches, the spotlight will remain on players like Shaw, whose domestic future hinges on whether he can overcome the concerns surrounding his form, fitness, and attitude.