“Main hi hun Shashank, mark idhar hai.”
These were Shashank Singh’s lines in one of the Punjab Kings’ pre-season video, shot with a couple of social media influencers in a bid to bookmark himself for future references. He was assumed as someone who ‘accidentally’ landed in the Punjab Kings camps in what looked like a big mess in the IPL 2024 players’ auction in Dubai.
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After ample clarifications, Shashank let his bat do the talking. The Chhattisgarh batter emerged as the highest-scorer for PBKS in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 with 354 runs in 14 matches, striking at 164.65. The right-hander will be remembered for his explosive innings against Kolkata Knight Riders that helped Punjab register the highest-successful chase in tournament history.
It was a season which Shashank had been waiting for so long. After a satisfying season, the 32-year-old had a brief chat with News18 CricketNext where he spoke at length about his last couple of months with Punjab Kings, the hard yards he put in and his aspirations to play for Team India.
Here are the excerpts 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 can’t be thankful enough. Giving an opportunity to a domestic player from game one was a pretty big thing. I’ve been a part of the franchise cricket before but this time, I was given a chance from the very beginning. The management, my teammates and even the foreign players backed me a lot.
I knew that I had to make it count this year. Last year when I was not there in the IPL, I worked hard on my fitness, on my power-hitting, and on a few of my shots. I think it paid off. I am very grateful to God that the last two months went well. But then, a bit disappointed with the way we finished that point table because of the bunch of talent we had in our room, I think we didn’t justify it.
Getting to play all 14 matches and then you ended up as the highest-scorer; have you been waiting for such an IPL season?
100%. I was waiting for the opportunity if I can bat a bit up the order. I had the finisher’s role when I was in SRH but I wasn’t getting that many balls to play because the top order was doing really well. But this year, I got the opportunity and I grabbed it with both hands. I wanted it to do well for the team and take it past the finish line. Sometimes I did it and failed a few times, but that’s a learning for me.
I was waiting for this opportunity where I could cement my place. I still don’t know whether I’ve done it but yes, I’m very much satisfied.
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.
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