Punjab Kings all-rounder Shashank Singh has decided to part ways with Chhattisgarh ahead of the 2026-27 domestic season, citing a lack of support from the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh (CSCS) during his injury rehabilitation and preparations for the upcoming campaign. The 34-year-old has secured a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the CSCS and will now represent Pondicherry as one of its guest players.
He will join Mumbai wicketkeeper-batter Prasad Pawar in strengthening the side for the new domestic season. In an interview with The Times of India, Shashank Singh made serious allegations against the state association, claiming it failed to support him after he suffered a major shoulder injury and a fractured finger during the previous season.
“I suffered serious shoulder and finger injuries last season, but the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh didn’t support me at all during that phase,” Shashank Singh said.
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The experienced all-rounder further revealed that he was left out of the Chhattisgarh Cricket Premier League 2026 as well as the squad that travelled to Bengaluru for a pre-season training camp. According to him, the association never explained the reason behind the decision despite his repeated attempts to seek clarity.
“I was told that I only want to play in the IPL and not for Chhattisgarh in domestic cricket,” he added.
Shashank Singh quits Chhattisgarh and is set to join Pondicherry for the 2026–27 domestic season. A fresh chapter awaits the hard-hitting all-rounder as he begins a new journey.#DomesticCricket #ShashankSingh #Pondicherry #Chhattisgarh #IndianCricket#Shashank pic.twitter.com/uUXfxn4Xml
— Vishal Yadav (@VishalY73709681) August 3, 2026
Shashank rejected that perception by pointing to his recent domestic achievements. He highlighted that he received the prestigious BCCI Lala Amarnath Award for the Best All-Rounder in Domestic Limited-Overs Competitions for the 2023-24 season, recognition that reflected his commitment to domestic cricket.
Looking ahead, Shashank Singh confirmed that he will focus primarily on white-ball cricket during the 2026-27 season and take a temporary break from red-ball cricket to manage his workload and return to full fitness.
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“My body is still fresh, and my priority is to contribute as a genuine all-rounder by bowling my full quota of four overs in T20 cricket for both Pondicherry and Punjab Kings,” he explained.
Shashank was instrumental in Punjab Kings’ run to the IPL 2025 final, scoring 350 runs at a strike rate of 153.51. However, he endured a difficult IPL 2026 campaign, managing just 132 runs in nine innings.
