Shashank Singh Leaves Chhattisgarh for Puducherry Ahead of 2026-27 Season
Shashank Singh's Transition to Puducherry
Uncapped Indian cricketer Shashank Singh is set to leave Chhattisgarh and join Puducherry for the upcoming 2026-27 domestic cricket season. He cited a lack of 'clarity' regarding his position as a key reason for this decision. The Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh (CSCS) has issued him a No Objection Certificate (NOC), as reported by Cricinfo.
Reasons Behind the Move
Shashank has been part of the Chhattisgarh team since 2019 and expressed that 'disrespect' from state board officials influenced his choice. A senior official confirmed to Cricinfo that the NOC was granted upon the player's request, but the association refrained from further comments on his statements.
Concerns Over Exclusion
The batter, who struggled in the IPL with only 132 runs in nine innings, attempted to communicate with the state board regarding his exclusion from the 2026 Chhattisgarh Cricket Premier League (CCPL) and the conditioning camp for state probables. He mentioned, 'This has been brewing for a while. I tried to engage in dialogue with the state association officials soon after the IPL season, but I didn't receive any response.'
Injury Issues and Misunderstandings
Shashank highlighted that issues of 'indifference' arose during the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy when he sustained a shoulder injury while fielding against Mumbai. Despite informing the physio about his condition, he felt the association misinterpreted his commitment. 'Scans revealed a Grade 2 shoulder strain, but the officials thought I was simply not interested,' he stated.
Prioritizing White-Ball Cricket
After facing multiple injuries, Shashank is now focusing on white-ball cricket, believing it will allow him to perform better as an all-rounder. 'In red-ball cricket, I tried my best, but my body did not allow it. I am tired of trying to convince people of this,' he explained. Puducherry has agreed to his request to concentrate solely on white-ball formats.
Career Overview
Over his seven-year career, Shashank has played 24 first-class matches for Chhattisgarh, averaging 29.19 with one century and six fifties. His List-A statistics are more impressive, with 927 runs in 31 games at an average of 40.30, including two centuries. In T20Is, he has scored 653 runs at a strike rate of 129.30, taking 18 wickets as well.
Looking Ahead
In the IPL, Shashank has served as a deputy to PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer, achieving 354 runs in the 2024 season at a strike rate of 164.65. However, the 2026 season was marred by poor performance and injury issues. 'Puducherry is a fresh start,' he concluded, expressing hope to regain his white-ball form after recovering from injuries.