The 2025/26 Ranji Trophy season began with an absolute shocker for Maharashtra, who crumbled to an abysmal 5 runs for 4 wickets in just the fourth over against Kerala at the Green Field Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. The nightmare start was compounded by a golden duck for star opener Prithvi Shaw, making his highly anticipated debut for Maharashtra a truly forgettable one. An image from the match captured the moment of disappointment, showing Prithvi Shaw after his four-ball duck.
Kerala’s pace attack, spearheaded by MD Nidheesh, was relentless from the get-go. Nidheesh sent shockwaves through the Maharashtra camp, trapping Shaw plumb lbw in the very first over, then following up with the dismissal of Siddhesh Veer on the next ball. Not to be outdone, Basil NP joined the party, claiming Arshin Kulkarni with his inaugural delivery and later clean bowling captain Ankeet Bawana with a sharp, bouncing delivery that left the stumps rattled.
Amidst the early carnage, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Jalaj Saxena showed some much-needed resilience, attempting to steady the ship. Their efforts saw Maharashtra crawl to 81 runs for 5 wickets by the lunch break, a partial recovery from the initial disaster but still a significant uphill battle.
Shaw’s disappointing duck was a stark contrast to his recent form, having smashed a century against Mumbai in a warm-up match just before the season. His move from Mumbai to Maharashtra was seen as an opportunity for a fresh start, especially after losing his spot in the national red-ball team.
This transition to Maharashtra was a pivotal moment for Shaw, aiming to rebuild his career after a tough patch that included going unsold in the IPL 2025 auction and facing persistent questions about his fitness and overall form. Earlier in August, Shaw had indeed hinted at this fresh start, scoring an impressive century against Chhattisgarh during the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament, signaling hope for his new team.
In the previous Ranji Trophy season, Maharashtra finished a modest fifth in Elite Group A, with a record of two wins, two draws, and three losses from their seven matches. This 2025/26 season places Maharashtra in a highly competitive Group B, alongside formidable opponents such as last season’s finalists Kerala, Saurashtra, Chandigarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Goa, making their initial stumble even more challenging.