33-year-old IPL star yet to make India debut claims 'I’ll be winning games for team in T20 World Cup'

“If you ask me about the team, then Punjab is lifting next year’s IPL for sure,” he told ESPNCricinfo. “And one more prediction I have, and that is in the upcoming [T20] World Cup in India, I’ll be playing, and I’ll be winning games for the team. I don’t know how that will happen, but I surely believe that it will happen.”

Shashank dismissed the notion that he is too old to live this dream and cited the example of current T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, who made his India debut at the age of 30 and recently led the country to its ninth continental title at the Asia Cup 2025.

"Surya hit Jofra [Archer] for six in his first match [innings] and now he’s the captain of the Indian team,” he says. “Then there’s Pravin Tambe. He didn’t play for India, but at the age of 41, he debuted in IPL. Can you imagine that!"

Also Read | 'Virender Sehwag ka 300 wala record, Yashasvi Jaiswal hi todega': Former India star makes huge prediction

Meanwhile, Punjab emerged as a formidable force in IPL 2025 and Shashank credited captain Shreyas Iyer and coach Ricky Ponting for it.

“Shreyas is at a different level altogether,” Shashank said. “He has his own aura, a different mindset altogether. Won’t talk rubbish, won’t tolerate rubbish. When he bats in the nets, he knows what he is doing. If someone asks me: 'Who is the best captain you have played under?' Hands down, Shreyas Iyer.

“And then Ricky, sir, he has made the game very simple. Cricket can be a complicated sport at times. If you ask a batsman, the leg shouldn’t go across, the head shouldn’t fall, but Ricky Sir has simplified the game brilliantly," he said.