The ongoing IPL season has unearthed a gem in 32-year-old Shashank Singh. The Punjab Kings (PBKS) batsman has been a veteran of the domestic circuit for nearly a decade. However, he has finally grabbed the spotlight with a phenomenal 315 runs at a blistering strike rate of 165.78 in IPL 2024.
Shashank credits his fellow Mumbai cricketer and a player he has played alongside for 15 years in Suryakumar Yadav as a source of inspiration. Both players share a common thread: excelling at converting high-risk shots into calculated risks under pressure. “The world sat up and took notice when Surya hit Jofra Archer for a six off his first ball in international cricket,” Shashank said, as quoted by to Sportstar. “But I had been watching him do the same for well over a decade, so I knew he would do it. Similarly, I know what I am capable of, and I support my abilities.”
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“And I have a friend in Surya (Suryakumar Yadav) with whom I have been playing for Parsee Gymkhana for the last 15 years.”
The Shashank-SKY connection
Another similarity between Shashank and SKY is their late rise to prominence. Both players honed their skills in domestic cricket before becoming household names in their 30s.
Suryakumar Yadav made his international debut at 31, and Shashank Singh’s breakout IPL season is happening at 32. While it is in IPL 2024, where the PBKS dasher has caught everyone’s eyes, he previously was a part of the Delhi Capitals (DC), Rajasthan Royals (RR). Interestingly, Shashank’s IPL debut came in Sunrisers Hyderabad’s jersey back in 2022.
Shashank’s story is a testament to perseverance. His years of hard work in domestic tournaments have finally paid off.
