Shashank Singh Reflects on Captain Shreyas Iyer's Leadership and Match Frustrations
Shashank Singh Discusses His Relationship with Shreyas Iyer
Shashank Singh shares a strong bond with his captain, Shreyas Iyer, of the Punjab Kings. Following the second qualifier against Mumbai, Shreyas was seen expressing his frustration towards Shashank during the customary post-match handshake, which was triggered by Shashank's casual run-out. While some fans criticized Shreyas for his reaction, others defended it. In a recent interview, Shashank acknowledged Iyer's feelings, even suggesting that a slap would have been justified.
"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."
Praise for Shreyas Iyer's Captaincy
Shashank Singh also took the opportunity to commend Shreyas Iyer's leadership skills. He dismissed the notion that Iyer has an 'attitude problem,' stating that he is approachable and open to suggestions from his teammates. Shashank remarked,
"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."
He further added,
"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."
Reflections on the Final Match
Reflecting on the final match, Shashank shared his strategy but admitted he couldn't execute it as planned. He explained,
"I had done my calculation of the last two overs, Bhuvi likes to bowl yorkers so I had planned to get at least 16-17 runs from him. My calculation was that in the last over our target should be 24 runs in 6 balls. I got only 13 from Bhuvi’s over, though, so the final over runs needed was 30."
Despite his efforts, Shashank's team lost by just 6 runs, ending the season without a trophy. He finished the year with notable performances, scoring 341 runs at a strike rate of 150, while his captain amassed 604 runs.