IPL 2026 Auction: Irfan Pathan urges star batter to justify talent through solid performances

Former cricketer Irfan Pathan wants top-order batter Prithvi Shaw to back his talent for a consistent output if the player gets picked by a team at the IPL 2026 Auction. Shaw has been shortlisted among the 350 players who will go under the hammer at the auction on Tuesday, December 16 in Abu Dhabi. For context, Shaw was unsold in IPL 2025, failing to find any takers, but Irfan believes that 2026 will be different.

On being asked to name a player who would be a big surprise if unsold, Irfan did not hesitate in taking the out-of-favour India opener's name. The cricketer-turned-commentator called Shaw a 'top-quality player' while describing the amount of talent he possesses. 

"I think about Prithvi Shaw. A player like Prithvi Shaw — I feel that the kind of talent he has should be justified through performances. Whenever I watch him, I feel, ‘This is a top-quality player, and he really should be delivering consistent performances," Irfan said via Star Sports.

Speaking of Shaw's cricketing activity of late, he was the Maharashtra squad captain for the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025. The side failed to qualify for the knockout stages, but Shaw impressed with a couple of half-centuries. The 26-year-old batter made 183 runs across the tournament at a strike rate of an impressive 160.52. Shaw has also garnered 470 runs off seven innings in the ongoing Ranji season.

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Speaking of his IPL career, Shaw has featured for only one franchise (Delhi Capitals) up until now. He went unsold in the mega auction ahead of IPL 2025. Shaw's best season came in 2021 in which posted 479 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of 159.13.

Shaw, along with a few other cricketers, has been listed in the opening set of capped batters. He has a base price set of INR 75 lakh. The franchises in need of an aggressive opening batter will be expected to go after Shaw during the auction. With the auction right around the corner, the Mumbai-born will be hopeful of making a return to the cash-rich tournament after being out of the limelight.