Shashank Singh's Heroics Propel Punjab Kings to Victory Over Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025
Shashank Singh's Stellar Performance
In Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on March 26, Shashank Singh shared insights about the guidance he received from captain Shreyas Iyer during the final over of the first innings, which enabled Punjab Kings to reach a formidable score of 243/5 against Gujarat Titans in the ongoing IPL 2025.
Having faced only 10 balls, Shashank entered the last over with Shreyas at the other end, who was on 97 and had already smashed nine sixes, yet was still seeking his maiden IPL century.
On the brink of making history as only the second captain to score a century on his debut, Shreyas prioritized the team's success over personal glory, advising Shashank, "Focus on hitting every ball for boundaries and don’t worry about giving me the strike."
Taking his captain's advice to heart, Shashank showcased his boundary-hitting skills, scoring 23 runs in that final over with five fours.
His explosive batting helped PBKS set a challenging target of 243/5 in their IPL 2025 opener, a total that proved to be just out of reach for the Titans.
Reflecting on the match, Shashank mentioned, "I didn’t check the scoreboard initially, but after my first hit, I noticed Shreyas was on 97. I was about to ask if I should take a single, but he reassured me not to worry about his hundred. It takes a lot of courage to say that, especially in T20 cricket where centuries are hard to come by. His words boosted my confidence immensely," as reported by ESPNcricinfo.
The duo of Shreyas and Shashank combined to score 77 runs in the last four overs, leaving the Titans in a precarious position. Shreyas, batting at number three for the first time since IPL 2022, faced only four balls in the final three overs.
Shashank praised Shreyas's selflessness, stating, "It’s a team game, and it’s tough to be selfless in such moments, but Shreyas was. I’ve known him for 15 years, and he’s always been like this. He advised me to stay calm, play my natural game, and thankfully, we finished strong."
Despite the impressive total, PBKS faced a tough challenge as GT aimed to achieve the second-highest run chase in IPL history, with Sai Sudharsan leading the charge with a dynamic 74 off 41 balls. Jos Buttler (54) and Sherfane Rutherford (46) also contributed significantly, helping GT score 87 runs between the ninth and fourteenth overs.
As the required runs dwindled to 75 off 36 balls, the Titans appeared to be in a strong position, especially with the dew affecting the bowlers' performance.
To shift the momentum, PBKS turned to impact player Vijaykumar Vyshak, who delivered an exceptional performance, conceding only 10 runs in his first two overs and bowling 10 dot balls, allowing PBKS to string together three overs without giving away a boundary. This sudden slowdown left GT unable to recover, and they ultimately fell short by 11 runs in a thrilling chase.
Shashank commended Shreyas's instinctive captaincy, stating, "Shreyas is one of the best captains globally because he trusts his instincts. I felt it was the right moment to bring in Vyshak, and he executed the plan flawlessly. Those were crucial overs, especially with the dew affecting the pitch," he noted.
"These are the moments that define matches. Vyshak came in and performed brilliantly. Bowling yorkers is challenging, but he nailed it, and I applaud him for his efforts," he concluded.