(Credit IPL)
In a pre-season video for Punjab Kings, Shashank Singh shared his story, reflecting on his unexpected journey into the team during the IPL 2024 players’ auction in Dubai. Initially perceived as an accidental addition to the squad, Shashank swiftly dispelled any doubts with his remarkable performance on the field.
As the highest run-scorer for PBKS in the IPL 2024 season, Shashank amassed 354 runs in 14 matches, boasting an impressive strike rate of 164.65. His standout moment came during a thrilling encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders, where his explosive innings played a pivotal role in Punjab’s record-breaking successful chase.
After a season he had long awaited, the 32-year-old Chhattisgarh batter took some time to reflect on his journey with Punjab Kings in an interview with News18 CricketNext. He delved into the hard work he had invested and shared his aspirations of representing Team India in the future.
Below are highlights from the interview:
You emerged as the star of Punjab Kings in IPL 2024. How the past 2 months have been for you?
To my owners, support staff, and teammates, I am profoundly grateful. Being given the opportunity as a domestic player right from the outset was monumental. While I’ve been part of franchise cricket previously, this time around, I was privileged to start from day one. The management, my fellow teammates, and even the international players provided unwavering support.
Recognizing the importance of this season, I was determined to make it count. During the previous IPL season when I wasn’t part of the roster, I dedicated myself to enhancing my fitness, power-hitting, and refining certain shots. Thankfully, those efforts bore fruit. I feel blessed that the past two months have been successful. However, there’s a tinge of disappointment regarding our position in the points table. Given the wealth of talent within our team, I believe we fell short of our potential.
Getting to play all 14 matches and then you ended up as the highest-scorer; have you been waiting for such an IPL season?
Absolutely. I had been eagerly waiting for the chance to bat higher up the order. In my previous stint with SRH, I was assigned the role of a finisher, but I didn’t often get enough deliveries to make a substantial impact due to the exceptional performances of the top order. However, this year, I was given the opportunity to bat higher up, and I embraced it wholeheartedly. My aim was to contribute significantly to the team’s success and help carry them across the finish line. While there were instances where I succeeded, there were also moments of failure, which I see as valuable learning experiences.
I had been anticipating this opportunity to solidify my position in the team. While I’m not entirely certain if I’ve achieved that goal, I am extremely satisfied with my performance this season.
Your knock against GT, against KKR in the highest chase of IPL history and all the key contributions that you made throughout the season, was it a reflection of not getting picked last year?
Absolutely. I still remember and I get goosebumps when I talk about it. I’ll be very honest with you. It was 22nd December, if I’m not wrong, when I wasn’t picked in the auction, that was the most disheartening moment of my life. I still remember how much I cried.
I was sitting all alone in my mother-in-law’s Innova, just roaming around Connaught Place in New Delhi. Mujhse wo digest nahi ho raha tha. Everything went well before that. I had a decent season (with the SRH) and in domestic as well.
It somewhat also depends on the stars as well. And this year I made it which made me mentally stronger. I had the family support. They knew that I had everything in me to play at the highest level.
Whenever I was out there to bat, I recalled last year’s rejection. I ensured trying my best whenever I got the opportunity.
Do you manifest your innings or winning games for your team?
Yes, I will agree that I manifest about winning games for my team. But you never visualize unreal stuff. Like the chase against KKR. It was unreal stuff; from Jonny and Prabh[simran]. And from myself as well, up to some extent. I had never thought in the wildest of my dreams that any team could chase 260 in some 18-odd overs.
Those things were unreal but then it showed how talented we are as a group.
Now that you had the best season with the bat, do you think of getting retained by the franchise, given that a mega-auction follows next?
As a human being, your mind is bound to have those kinds of thoughts. I won’t deny it. But then again, being in the present is the best thing. Like when even when I bat, sometimes I think about what will happen next. But end of the ultimately, you will have to be in the present and you have to focus on the next ball, rather than the next over.
So yes, such thoughts do cross my mind but it vanishes as quickly as it pops up. And I’m a believer in God. So, whatever is written in my destiny, it should be good for sure.
After the PBKS vs CSK game in Dharamsala, a video went viral in which you and CSK CEO, Kasi Viswanathan, were seen having a cheerful conversation. The fans on social media are predicting your future with Chennai Super Kings. What was the chat? Have you seen that video?
Although I scroll social media but haven’t come across that particular video. I have heard that Kasi sir is extremely passionate. But honestly, I wanted to meet him. And who wouldn’t want to… he has made such great players, like Mahi Bhai, Ambati Rayudu, all the legends. So, I just wanted to say hello and it’s good to know people of his stature.
It was just a normal conversation, about the wicket, about the match, about my performances, about Chhattisgarh cricket and the talent in our state, rather than anything else. He was extremely happy, just like the way my father. I’m extremely grateful that now I can say I know him.
Tell us something about the role of your Chhattisgarh coach, Hitesh Goswami. He told CricketNext that he had helped you discover the spark in you. How much did he push you to deliver your best?
I was playing well but I wasn’t realising what I was capable of. Sometimes you need someone to tell you what things can you do. So that’s when Hitesh sir came and told me which position should I bat at, and what shots should I play. He instilled that confidence in me and also helped me a lot with my technicalities.
At the same time, he was the scout for Punjab Kings and he recommended my name, not just once but multiple times. He was very sure that this year I’d get picked, if not by Punjab then by some other franchise. Even when I joined the camp, the management mentioned that Hitesh sir was pretty vocal about my talent.
Your performance left the Pundits impressed so much so that Harbhajan Singh called you a ‘finished product’ while many put in the reckoning for the World Cup selection. Were you aware of that media hype? Ever did the thought of a World Cup selection cross your mind?
Who wouldn’t want to don the Indian jersey, that too in a World Cup? But at the same time, you have to be realistic as well. I am a practical person when it comes to my profession. I don’t have any idea about the media hype, I never felt it. I was focused on the process because if I do well, things will fall in place for me automatically.
I had never thought that I would have a great season, bat at no. 4 and end up being the highest run-scorer for a franchise. It was all because of the process that I followed all these years. I want to continue with it. One thing that I’m very clear about is I’m in the right direction. If I keep doing well, who knows I might wear that blue India jersey one day.
Why didn’t you bowl this IPL?
I think I didn’t fall in the combination as a bowler, also with the Impact player rule coming into play. We already had 6 bowling options and sometimes it also depends on the situation and a captain’s point of view. Even when I was leading in the DY Patil tournament, I bowled ahead of a mainstream bowler thinking that I could do better. Sometimes you just back your gut feeling.
But personally, I need to work a lot on my bowling, so that if we speak next year, you can say that I bowled well.
How was sharing the dressing room with Shikhar Dhawan?
The best thing was I knew him already. We had played in DY Patil and I even captained him. So, we shared a very good bond. He is always cheerful and has your back. He gave me that mental strength and backed by skills which made me confident. We missed him a lot this season but he ensured our comfort from the dressing room.
He always had the faith in me. In fact, he was happier than me when I played that knock against KKR. All of these really matter, especially when someone of his stature is enjoying the performance. He is someone whom I call my elder brother.
