Delhi Capitals Captain: Prithvi Shaw Opening batsmen Prithvi Shaw was unsold at IPL mini-auction 2026 until his old franchise Delhi Capitals bought him back. Shaw’s immediate, social-media reaction went viral – before DC intervened to tie him in for INR 75 lakh on the day.
Shaw was a part of the IPL 2026 auctions as he had been released by Delhi Capitals before IPL 2025 and had not played the whole tournament. Even though he had a good outing in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, scoring 183 runs in seven matches at an impressive strike rate of over 160. His name was called out early in the auction, but nobody bid. Shaw was passed over on the second fast track even.
Prithvi Shaw went unsold after two rounds, so the batter took to Instagram and shared a heartbreaking narrative with the words “It’s okay,” a heartbreak emoji, and a hugging emoji. Moments later, he signed the Delhi-based franchise.
9:10 PM: Prithvi Shaw posts a sad story – “Its okay ❤️🤗” after going unsold even in Round 2.
⁰9:17 PM: Sold to DC for ₹75L in Round 3.
⁰Story deleted.
Good things come to those who wait. God’s plan 🤍 pic.twitter.com/KWmIHnVFe2
— KARTHIK DP (@dp_karthik) December 16, 2025Prithvi Shaw Returns Home as DC Buy Him Back
In the last accelerated round, the auction’s final opportunity, Delhi Capitals re-signed Shaw, paying his base price of INR 75 lakh. Shaw, who represented the franchise from 2018 until 2024, was finally reunited after seven seasons apart. When the purchase was completed, Shaw removed his previous Instagram story and replaced it with the statement “Back to my family,” accompanied with a red heart emoji.
The franchise, by the way, did invest in him through his youth – buying him for INR 1.2 crore in 2018 after India’s Under-19 World Cup win. In 79 IPL games, Shaw has scored 1,892 runs at a strike rate of 147.46. Inconsistency, fitness problems and discipline issues all have played a part in his career falling from grace over recent seasons. Shaw has moved base from Mumbai to Maharashtra. He is finished in terms of a national career but his last international appearance for India came in 2021.
