Shashank Singh’s career trajectory has really morphed after being picked by Punjab Kings last season. After being anointed in the IPL 2024 mini auction and then retained, he was entrusted to lead the franchise in an essential game that ensured their entry into the playoffs. Sunday saw PBKS shuffle line-ups with Shreyas Iyer out injured and Harpreet Brar in his stead, Shashank leading the team for an encounter against the Rajasthan Royals. Shashank grabbed this opportunity by the horns and squeezed every ounce of potential from it.
The Royals made their entry loud, smashing a target of 220, with openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi doing well in the Powerplay. In the end, however, Shashank’s bowling strategy and tactics frustrated the Royals, courtesy of an able supporting cast comprising Iyer and Coach Ricky Ponting. A 10-run victory was massive for Shashank since he became the first cricketer from Chhattisgarh to captain an IPL side for an entire innings. Notably, he was also the first Indian domestic cricketer without an international cap to do so in IPL history.
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What’s even more important is that the team’s management trusted Shashank, giving him responsibility beyond just hitting runs. He did score an unbeaten 59, marking his fourth fifty in IPL, but his leadership also stood out. For those that don’t know, Shashank has led teams comprising big names such as Shikhar Dhawan and Dinesh Karthik and is hence very confident of his own leadership abilities.
