Shashank Singh was one of the two players retained by Punjab Kings (PBKS) ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. The designated finisher of the team lived up to the expectations, also kept PBKS in hunt until the final over of the IPL finale against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), which the former lost by six wickets.
However, there was a moment of lapse of concentration shown by the 33-year-old, which was a match before the final and led to an angry outburst by his skipper Shreyas Iyer. The moment took place in the Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians (MI), when a run-out led to his wicket and left the team in a tricky position. Shashank was dismissed for 2(3) as the lapse of concentration while completing a single saw PBKS get reduced to 169/5 in 16.4 overs while chasing a challenging 204.
Iyer led the team from the front and completed the staggering chase with an over to spare. However, when others walked out to the center to exchange pleasantries, Iyer didn't hesitate from reflecting his anger on the middle-order batter. The moment was caught on camera and didn't take long to viral on social media.
Days after the tournament is over, Shashank has now opened up about the moment and admitted his mistake. While keeping his views, Shashank also mentioned that Iyer should have "slapped him" before adding "his father didn't speak" with him until the finals.
"I deserve it, Iyer should have slapped me, my father didn’t speak to me till the finals. I was casual, I was walking on the beach not even in the garden. It was a crucial time, Shreyas was clear that I didn’t expect this from you but later he took me out for dinner,” Shashank was quoted as saying by the Indian Express.
Shashank finished the season as the second-highest run-scorer from the Punjab Kings camp, accumulating 341 runs at a strike rate of 153. He was also full of praise for Iyer, during which he also made a bold claim.
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“Whatever I have spoken to others and seen, there is no better captain than him in current times in world cricket. He gives us freedom, he treats everyone equally. No one will say, Shreyas has an attitude,” said Shashank.
“The youngsters in the dressing room find him to be a chill banda. Shreyas is the only captain, who has told us that if anyone has any suggestion during the game, he can come and convey it to him. If he feels it’s the right advice, he will take it. It’s rare,” he added.
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