Punjab Kings found an unlikely hero with the ball as Shashank Singh turned the game on its head with a stunning double strike against Sunrisers Hyderabad. After a dominant opening stand between Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, the part-time option delivered a breakthrough that shifted momentum dramatically.
SRH’s openers were in complete control during the Powerplay, racing to a commanding start at the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh. Abhishek, who considers this venue a home ground due to his domestic cricket ties with Punjab, once again looked in sublime touch. His previous heroics here, including a memorable century in IPL 2025, made his early dominance hardly surprising.
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With PBKS seamers struggling for answers, the decision by captain Shreyas Iyer and head coach Ricky Ponting to introduce Shashank Singh into the attack raised a few eyebrows. However, it proved to be a tactical masterstroke.
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In his second over, Shashank struck immediately, dismissing Travis Head off the very first delivery with a well-disguised slower ball. Just three balls later, he removed Abhishek Sharma, who attempted to go hard at a wide delivery but only managed to edge it. In the space of four balls, PBKS had dismantled a threatening century partnership and regained control.
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Interestingly, Shashank Singh is far from a regular bowling option in the IPL. Before this match, he had bowled in just a handful of games, all coincidentally against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Despite limited opportunities, he has now picked up three crucial wickets in this fixture, including two dismissals of Abhishek Sharma.
His unexpected impact once again highlights the value of tactical flexibility in T20 cricket, where even occasional bowlers can emerge as match-winners.
