Prithvi Shaw’s return to domestic cricket has been closely watched, with the explosive opener hoping to rediscover the form that once made him one of India’s most exciting batting prospects. However, his latest outing for West Zone in the Duleep Trophy 2026 ended sooner than he would have liked, as Jammu & Kashmir spinner Abid Mushtaq produced a superb delivery to knock him over.
Shaw made a brisk start against North Zone and appeared eager to make an early statement. But just when he seemed to be settling into his innings, Mushtaq found the perfect ball to expose the smallest of gaps between bat and pad.
Promising start for Prithvi Shaw in Duleep Trophy campaign
Shaw walked out with his familiar attacking intent and immediately looked comfortable against the North Zone attack. Rather than spending time getting his eye in, the right-hander looked to put pressure on the bowlers with positive strokeplay.
He reached 22 from only 20 deliveries, combining clean timing with trademark back-foot punches. For West Zone, it was an encouraging beginning, particularly given the importance of every domestic appearance for a batter trying to force his way back into the national conversation. However, North Zone introduced spin, and Mushtaq quickly made his presence felt.
Abid Mushtaq produces a peach to dismiss Shaw
Mushtaq bowled with control from the outset, keeping Shaw from freely accessing the off side. The left-arm orthodox spinner then delivered the breakthrough with a ball that had just enough movement to completely beat the batter.
The delivery was pitched on a teasing length outside off stump. Shaw moved forward to defend, but the ball gripped the surface and turned sharply after drifting towards him. His bat and pad were separated by only a narrow gap, but that was all Mushtaq needed. The ball sneaked through and smashed into the off stump, leaving Shaw stranded at the crease.
The dismissal was a classic example of what quality spin can do against an aggressive batter. Shaw had looked confident only moments earlier, but Mushtaq’s accuracy and subtle turn completely changed the contest. The spinner’s celebration reflected the importance of the wicket, while Shaw could only look back at the pitch before making his way to the pavilion.
Here’s the video:
What. A. Ball 😮
Abid Mushtaq with a peach to dismiss Prithvi Shaw 👏
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/cATggoXuky#DuleepTrophy pic.twitter.com/sCkb0vLwpj
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) August 23, 2026
North Zone pile up a decent total before Mushtaq demolishes West Zone batting
Earlier, North Zone were bundled out for 251 with Anshul Kamboj and Ayush Badoni collecting majority of runs. Badoni smashed 51 off 47 while Kamboj managed to score a crucial knock of 60 down the order to make sure North Zone reach a competitive total. Apart from the duo, Ayush Doseja also made a healthy contribution of 42 runs. For West Zone, Tanush Kotian and Tushar Deshpande were the pick of the bowlers, taking 4 wickets each.
In response to North Zone’s 251, the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led West Zone have scored 93/5 in 37 overs with Mushtaq already pocketing 4 wickets. Apart from Shaw, Mushtaq also dismissed the likes of Shivalik Sharma (22), Gaikwad (5) and Urvil Patel (0).
