Uncapped Shashank Singh ready to guide Punjab Kings to maiden IPL trophy? Star finisher says 'I feel I have the ability to lead a side and win a championship'

Shashank Singh averaged over 44 in IPL 2024 and is open to the leadership role at Punjab Kings if it comes his way.

Sports Tak

• Sun • 17 Nov 2024

Punjab Kings' Shashank Singh (R) plays a shot during the Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mohali on April 13, 2024.

Shashank Singh, Sanju Samson

Highlights:

Shashank Singh was in stupendous form last season.

Shashank and Prabhsimran Singh were two uncapped players retained by PBKS.

32-year-old Shashank Singh is one of the two uncapped players retained by Punjab Kings (PBKS). The Punjab-based franchise is yet to win their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title and haven't been able to reach the playoffs in a decade. After retaining two uncapped players, PBKS will be hunting for a new captain in the IPL 2025 mega auction later this month. Ahead of the bidding extravaganza in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on November 24 and 25, Shashank was asked whether he would like to lead the team in next edition. The Chattisgarh batter said he will open to do it if asked to and has it in him to lead the side to championship win.

"Honestly, I don’t know much about it. I have been leading in the DY Patil T20 tournament for five years and touchwood, I’m doing good so far. Even for Chhattisgarh, if the management considers me capable of leading the side, I would accept it happily. I feel that I have the ability to lead a side and win a championship," he told News18.

"Similarly, if Punjab Kings want to try me as captain, I will definitely grab that opportunity with both hands and make proper use of it. I will be grateful but not expecting anything. However, the responsibility on my shoulder doesn’t change at all. Be it an uncapped player last year or an uncapped retention now, the job is to go out and give my 110% and make the team win," he added.

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Shashank's run in IPL 2024

Shashank's story has been inspiration. Initially, he was picked by PBKS in the mini-auction by an accident. He impressed everyone in the nets and was tasked with the job of finisher in the team. In IPL 2024, he scored 354 runs at an average of 44.25 from 14 innings. He scored at a strike rate of 164.65 and has two fifties to his name.

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Captaincy candidates for PBKS

With former Delhi Capitals (DC) head coach Ricky Ponting joining PBKS, they released all the star players. Apart from Shashank (Rs 5.5 crore), only Prabhsimran Singh (Rs 4 crore) was retained by the franchise as they look for a major revamp. In the mega auction, Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul are prominent candidates available for the role.