Prithvi Shaw, currently recovering from a knee injury, revealed the frightening details of a pub brawl at Mumbai’s Sahara Star Hotel.
Indian cricketer Prithvi Shaw faced setbacks since his impressive 2018 international debut, playing only five Tests, six ODIs, and a lone T20I in over two years. Technical challenges and off-field controversies, notably an accusation by influencer Sapna Gill, have marked his journey.
Reflecting on the incident at Mumbai’s Barrel Club, Shaw revealed he and his friends faced unwanted attention, obliging to selfies and tolerating invasive filming. The situation escalated, leading to the manager asking Sapna Gill’s group to leave. Outside, Shaw was shocked to find Gill holding a baseball bat.
“I was at Barrel Club inside the Sahara Star Hotel in Mumbai with 7-8 friends. 4-5 people sitting on the adjoining table came up to me for selfies, and I obliged. But they came back again because the pictures they took came out to be blurred, so I took the selfie again. Then came a couple who put their arms around my shoulder and started making a video without asking me,” Shaw said to News24.
“The manager then asked them to leave the club. Then I also exited after some time from the hotel’s front gate. But the girl (Sapna Gill) was standing outside with a baseball bat. They were not looking like normal human beings, the way they all were waiting for me outside. They were on something else,” he explained.
Shaw also recounted the harrowing incident where his BMW was targeted with baseball bats. As he slowed down at a CISF check post, the assailants attacked the car’s windshield, prompting Shaw to intervene. In a video that quickly circulated on social media, Shaw is seen taking the bat from influencer Sapna Gill’s hand to prevent further damage.
“They attacked my car with a baseball bat while I was slowing down at a CISF check post. They started attacking the windshield and hit it 3-4 times, I was scared of the glass breaking. Then I had to get out of the car with the intention of taking the baseball bat out of her hands otherwise she would have completely ruined my car. So I snatched the baseball bat from her, and that video got viral after she posted it. Only that part was posted,” Shaw continued.
Accused of molestation and assault, the police later declared the charges against Shaw, baseless. He clarified that his friends were wrongly accused, emphasizing surveillance footage can verify their innocence.
“I was really scared for my life, I thought they would kill me. For the first time in my life, I was so scared. Then we filed the complaint, even though I knew my name would be dragged into it. But I knew that we did not do anything wrong so we filed the complaint,” he added.
Looking ahead, the 24-year-old cricketer aims for a swift recovery, targeting a return for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL). A strong performance in the tournament could pave the way for a national team comeback, allowing Shaw to leave the recent controversies behind and focus on his cricketing career.
Last Updated on January 25, 2024
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