Shashank Singh gave credit to the legendary Brian Lara for giving him the confidence he needed for his batting as well. The star batter played under Lara while playing for the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), but after a poor season where he scored 69 runs at an average of 17.25, the SRH released him.
In 2024, Shashank Singh joined the Punjab Kings (PBKS) and he has been a key part of their team since then. He was retained by PBKS for the oIPL 2025, and he left his mark already. On Tuesday, Shashank scored 52 runs off 36 balls, with two fours and three sixes, helping the Punjab Kings beat the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 18 runs in Mullanpur as well.
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“So obviously, I will give credit to Mr. Brian Lara because when I played for SRH three years ago, he was someone who told me that at number 7 or 8, it’s not always about power hitting. When you think about those positions, you usually think of players like Russell or Pollard, not players who time the ball well. He told me that if you’re batting at 6 or 7, you should back your instincts rather than trying to be like someone else. That gave me confidence. I realised that if I’m not a power hitter, I need to focus on finding the right angles, which keeps me going,” Shashank Singh said in the post-match press conference.
However, PBKS continued their good show after beating CSK. They are currently placed fourth with a net run rate of +0.289 from wins in three out of four games. Shashank also praised PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer for being ‘approachable’ and leading the team from the front as well.
“From day one when we joined the camp, he’s been very approachable. His doors are always open for anyone, not just me. I’ve known him for the last 12 years, but any youngster in the team can just go and have a word with him. He’s someone who’s always very positive. He always speaks positively—it’s just part of his language. That’s the best part, and it’s great for the team,” Shashank added.
The Punjab Kings will next play against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Saturday, April 12, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium as well.
