Shashank Singh Leaves Chhattisgarh for Puducherry Ahead of Domestic Season
Shashank Singh's Transition to Puducherry
New Delhi, August 3: Uncapped Indian cricketer Shashank Singh is set to leave Chhattisgarh to join Puducherry for the upcoming 2026-27 domestic cricket season, citing a lack of transparency as his primary reason for the move.
Shashank, who has been a part of the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), has received a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh (CSCS), according to reports from a sports news outlet.
Having played for Chhattisgarh since 2019, Shashank expressed that the 'disrespect' from state board officials influenced his decision. A senior official mentioned that the player had requested the NOC, which was granted, but the association preferred not to comment further on his statements.
Despite a disappointing IPL season where he scored only 132 runs in nine innings, including a half-century, Shashank attempted to communicate with the state board regarding his exclusion from the 2026 Chhattisgarh Cricket Premier League (CCPL) and his absence from a conditioning camp for state probables.
“This situation has been developing for some time. I reached out to the state association officials after the IPL season, but I received no feedback. They failed to provide a valid reason for my exclusion from the [2026] CCPL and did not explain why I was overlooked for the conditioning camp,” he stated.
Shashank, who was awarded the BCCI accolade for the best domestic white-ball all-rounder for the 2023-24 season, emphasized that he deserves clarity rather than ridicule.
He noted that issues of 'indifference' began during the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy when he sustained a shoulder injury while fielding against Mumbai. Although the physio was aware of his condition, the association perceived him as 'disinterested.'
“Scans confirmed a Grade 2 shoulder strain, which the physio knew about, yet the officials thought I was not committed. I played through the injury, but they did not interpret it that way,” he explained.
At 34, Shashank has faced multiple injuries over the past year and is now focusing on white-ball cricket, believing it will allow him to perform optimally as an all-rounder. He stated that his body struggles with the demands of red-ball cricket.
“I have tried to excel as an all-rounder in red-ball cricket, but my body has not cooperated. I am weary of trying to convince others of this. Hence, I wish to concentrate solely on white-ball cricket, and fortunately, Puducherry agreed to this before we finalized the paperwork,” he remarked.
Throughout 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 matches at an average of 40.30, including two centuries and three fifties. He has also participated in 42 T20Is, scoring 653 runs at a strike rate of 129.30, while taking 18 wickets.
In the IPL, Shashank has served as the deputy to PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer, showcasing an outstanding 2024 season with 354 runs at a strike rate of 164.65, which led to his retention before the mega auction. However, the 2026 season was marred by poor performance, dropped catches, and injury issues.
“Puducherry represents a new beginning for me. I am eager to regain my white-ball form after fully recovering from my injuries,” Shashank concluded.