Touted as the next big thing in Indian cricket, 19- year-old Prithvi Shaw was slapped with an eight-month ban from all forms of competitive cricket for failing a dope test, the BCCI said in a statement .

The right-handed batsman was handed a ban by the BCCI for consuming “inadvertently ingested a prohibited substance, which can be commonly found in cough syrups”. In response to the ban, Shaw wrote that he accepts his fate and hopes to return stronger and better from the ban.

“I have come to know today that I will not be able to play cricket till mid November 2019. This is in light of a prohibited substance present in the cough syrup which I inadvertently took when I had severe cough & cold while playing for my Mumbai team during Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament in Indies in Feb 2019,” Shaw wrote in a statement on Twitter.

However, Shaw’s period of suspension starts from March 16 to November 15, effectively ruling him out of India’s home series against Bangladesh and South Africa.

“I have come to know today that I will not be able to play cricket till mid November 2019. This is in light of a prohibited substance present in the cough syrup which I inadvertently took when I had severe cough & cold while playing for my Mumbai team during Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament in Indies in Feb 2019,” Shaw wrote in a statement on Twitter.

Along with Shaw, two other domestic players — Akshay Dullarwar of Vidarbha and Divya Gajraj of Rjasthan — have also violated the cricket board’s anti-doping code.

“Prithvi Shaw registered with Mumbai Cricket Association, has been suspended for doping violation. Mr. Shaw had inadvertently ingested a prohibited substance, which can be commonly found in cough syrups,” the BCCI said in a statement.

Shaw’s period of suspension is eight months, starting from March 16 to November 15, effectively ruling him out of India’s home series against Bangladesh and South Africa.

Cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle took to his twitter handle and explained why there is need to handle Prithvi carefully

Indian cricket needs to handle Prithvi Shaw carefully and set him on the right path. This is a kid who has achieved success the hard way. — Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 30, 2019