Indian opener Prithvi Shaw experienced a roller-coaster ride at the IPL 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi. Initially, no team showed interest in him despite his base price of just ₹75 lakh. However, the day ended with an unexpected twist that brought him back to his IPL family.

The Painful Start

The auction began badly for Shaw. His name appeared in the first session, but surprisingly, no franchise placed a bid. Subsequently, the auctioneer called his name again during the accelerated auction round. Unfortunately, he faced rejection once more.

This double disappointment clearly hurt the 26-year-old cricketer. Consequently, he took to Instagram and posted a heartbreak emoji with the words “It’s Ok.” This emotional response showed how deeply the rejection affected him.

Prithvi Shaw at 9:10 PM: uploaded a sad story after going unsold even in Round 2.

9:17 PM: sold to DC for ₹75L in round 3.

Story deleted. God’s plan. 🤩 pic.twitter.com/463IFPhuDX

— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) December 16, 2025

The Dramatic Turnaround

Just when Shaw seemed finished with the IPL 2026, something unexpected happened. Towards the end of the auction, Delhi Capitals suddenly revived his name for a third time. Moreover, they picked him up at his base price of ₹75 lakh.

Shaw’s IPL Journey

The young opener responded quickly to this good news. Within just six minutes, he deleted his heartbreak post. Instead, he shared the Delhi Capitals’ welcome post featuring himself with captain Axar Patel. Furthermore, he captioned it “Back to my family” with a heart emoji, showing his happiness.

Recent Form and Struggles

Shaw’s IPL journey hasn’t been smooth recently. Between 2023 and 2024, he scored only 304 runs from 16 games. Therefore, the Delhi Capitals released him before IPL 2025. Additionally, he missed the entire 2025 season without a team.

However, Shaw worked hard on his game during this difficult period. Recently, he showed promising form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26. Specifically, he scored 183 runs in seven matches with a strike rate above 160. This performance proved he still possesses the talent that made him famous.

Career Highlights

Shaw’s cricket journey started brilliantly. As a teenager, he scored an incredible 546 runs in a Harris Shield match – the highest score in organized cricket since 1901. Subsequently, he captained India to victory in the 2018 U19 Cricket World Cup.

International Career Stats

• Test matches: 5 games (debut: October 2018 vs West Indies)
• ODIs: 6 games (last match: July 2021 vs Sri Lanka)
• Fastest Ranji double century: Achieved in October 2024

Moreover, Shaw represented Northamptonshire in England’s County Championship during 2023-24. Recently, he switched from Mumbai to Maharashtra for domestic cricket opportunities.

Why Delhi Capitals Picked Him?

Several factors likely influenced DC’s decision. First, Shaw knows the team culture well from his six-year association. Second, his recent domestic form shows improvement. Third, at ₹75 lakh, he represents excellent value for money. Finally, his experience opening the batting adds depth to DC’s squad.

What This Means Going Forward?

This comeback gives Shaw a crucial opportunity to revive his career. He needs consistent performances to regain selectors’ attention for international cricket. Additionally, playing for his familiar franchise removes adjustment pressures.

The emotional Instagram journey captured cricket fans’ attention nationwide. His honest reaction to rejection resonated with many people. Furthermore, the quick turnaround from despair to joy created a heartwarming story.

In conclusion, Prithvi Shaw gets another chance to prove himself at the highest level. His return to Delhi Capitals completes a circle that started in 2018. Now, cricket fans eagerly wait to see if this homecoming produces the performances that once made him India’s most promising young talent.

The Indian government recently introduced the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Bill in Lok Sabha to completely reshape how universities and colleges operate. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced this reform would simplify regulations and help Indian institutions compete globally. However, the proposal has sparked intense debate across the country.

Why Does India Need This Change?

Currently, India has nearly 60,000 educational institutions, including 1,200 universities. Despite this growth, the system faces major problems. Multiple regulators like UGC, AICTE, and NCTE often overlap in their functions. Consequently, institutions deal with repeated paperwork and conflicting guidelines.

For instance, teacher education institutions report to NCTE for standards but also run programs under UGC rules. This creates unnecessary confusion and wastes time. Moreover, the current system makes it difficult for universities to adopt modern teaching methods quickly.

What Will Replace the Old System?

The Bill proposes dissolving existing regulators and creating one apex body with three independent councils:

The Three-Council Structure

Furthermore, these councils will work independently but coordinate through the apex body. This structure aims to eliminate conflicts of interest and duplication of work.

Key Features of the Reform

The Bill introduces several important changes:

• Greater autonomy for universities to design courses
• Interdisciplinary learning options across different fields
• Student feedback as a critical component of accreditation
• Transparent data available publicly for all institutions
• Strict action against fake universities and fraudulent practices
• New credit system to support reskilling and upskilling

Additionally, the government plans to introduce a fresh ranking framework alongside the existing NIRF system. This will help students make better choices about their education.

Funding: A Major Change

Notably, the regulatory body will no longer control funding. Instead, the Ministry of Education will directly handle grants to institutions. Officials explain this separation reduces conflicts of interest. Nevertheless, regulatory reports will heavily influence funding decisions.

The Debate: Support vs. Concerns

Supporters argue:

• The reform simplifies complicated regulations
• It aligns with the National Education Policy 2020 goals
• Universities gain flexibility to innovate
• One framework means less paperwork

Critics worry:

• Too much power is concentrated in the central government
• State universities might lose autonomy
• Federal balance could weaken
• Teachers’ groups fear reduced institutional freedom

Opposition MPs have particularly raised concerns about centralization. They question whether states will maintain meaningful control over their universities. Meanwhile, student organizations demand wider consultation before passing the Bill.

What Happens Next?

A 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee will examine the Bill thoroughly. The committee must submit its report by the end. During this time, they will hold consultations with various stakeholders.

Minister Pradhan emphasizes the Bill won’t disturb state universities’ functioning. He says education remains on the Concurrent List, meaning both the center and the states share responsibility. Therefore, the reform focuses on coordination rather than taking over state powers.

In conclusion, the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Bill represents India’s ambitious attempt to modernize higher education. While the government promises simplified regulations and global competitiveness, critics demand careful scrutiny to protect institutional autonomy. The coming weeks will determine whether this reform achieves its goal of creating a world-class education system or becomes another point of federal tension.