Shashank Singh Reflects on Shreyas Iyer's Outburst After IPL Qualifier
Shashank Singh Discusses Shreyas Iyer's Reaction
Middle-order batter Shashank Singh from Punjab Kings shared his thoughts on the intense reaction from captain Shreyas Iyer following their IPL 2025 Qualifier 2 match against Mumbai Indians at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Punjab Kings secured their spot in the finals after overcoming Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2. The team, led by Shreyas Iyer, bounced back from a previous defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Iyer's remarkable unbeaten innings of 87 runs off 41 balls was pivotal in chasing down the 204-run target set by the five-time IPL champions. Despite this victory, Iyer expressed visible frustration towards Singh due to a run-out that nearly jeopardized their win.
Viral Video Captures the Moment
A video that circulated widely on social media shows Shreyas Iyer expressing his anger towards Shashank Singh, saying, 'Don’t talk to me, you m*******.' This outburst occurred after Singh was run out during a critical moment in the match, which left Iyer in a foul mood.
शशांक सिंह से श्रेयस अय्यर - मुंह मत लगना मेरे मादर…😂😂दरअसल शशांक सिंह 18वें में उस समय अपनी गलती से रनआउट हो गए थे, जब मैच फंसा हुआ यहाइससे अय्यर साहब का मूड ही ख़राब हो गया था जो मैच जीतने के बाद शशांक को देखते ही गर्म हो गए😁#ShreyasIyer #PBKSvMI #IPLFinals
Shashank Singh Takes Responsibility
In an interview with a media outlet, Shashank Singh acknowledged his mistake and humorously stated that he deserved a slap from Iyer. He mentioned that his father did not speak to him until the finals against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
"I deserve it; Iyer should have slapped me. I was too casual, almost like I was strolling on the beach instead of focusing on the game," the 33-year-old remarked. He added that Iyer later took him out for dinner to ease the tension.
Redemption in the Finals
Shashank Singh redeemed himself in the finals against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, scoring an impressive 61 runs off 30 balls during Punjab Kings' chase of 191 runs. Unfortunately, his efforts were in vain as the team fell short by seven runs, missing out on their first IPL trophy in their second final appearance after 11 years.
Throughout IPL 2025, Singh was the fifth-highest run-scorer for Punjab Kings, accumulating 350 runs, including two half-centuries, with an average of 50 and a strike rate of 153.50 across 17 matches.
Praise for Shreyas Iyer's Leadership
Shashank Singh also commended Shreyas Iyer's captaincy, asserting that there is no better captain in T20 cricket today. He highlighted the positive atmosphere in the team's dressing room and how the younger players view Iyer.
"From what I've seen and heard, there is no better captain than him in the current cricket landscape. He grants us freedom and treats everyone equally. No one can say that Shreyas has an attitude," Singh stated.
He further noted that Iyer encourages players to share their suggestions during matches, which is a rare quality in a captain.
Iyer's Successful Captaincy
Under Shreyas Iyer's guidance, Punjab Kings experienced a remarkable turnaround, finishing the league stage at the top of the table with nine wins, four losses, and one no result, totaling 19 points. Iyer made history by becoming the first player to achieve 50 wins as a captain in IPL and the first to lead three teams to the finals of the tournament, having previously captained Delhi Capitals and led Kolkata Knight Riders to a title victory last year.