India, Oct. 15 -- Prithvi Shaw's pre-season efforts and preparation amounted to nothing as both flopped in his Ranji Trophy opener on Tuesday. The out-of-favour India opener was dismissed for a four-ball duck in Maharashtra's match against Kerala at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.

Ahead of the season, Shaw shared an Instagram post performing prayers and a pooja, captioning it, "Prayers that calm my heart and guide my path." Yet, his Ranji Trophy debut for Maharashtra got off to a futile start, as he edged a fuller delivery that seamed back, hitting him plumb in front for MD Nidheesh's first wicket for Kerala.

The dismissal was a blip in his otherwise impressive start for Maharashtra earlier in the domestic se...