Shashank Singh, IPL 2024, GT vs PBKS:
In a nail-biting finish to match number 17 of IPL 2024, Punjab Kings snatched victory from the jaws of the Gujarat Titans in the final over. Shashank Singh, 32, played a pivotal role in the victory with a striking 61 runs off 29 balls, turning the match on its head with a momentous inning. His partnership with fellow impact player Ashutosh Sharma racked up a commendable 43 runs.
Before diving into Shashank’s winning performance on April 4th against Gujarat, let's wind back to December 2023. It was during the mini-auction for IPL 2024 in Dubai where Punjab Kings acquired the uncapped Shashank Singh for 20 lakhs INR amid controversy that the selection was accidental. Regardless of the turmoil, Singh proved to be Punjab's savior in a crucial game.
Despite earlier disputes suggesting that Preity Zinta's team mistakenly bought him, the Kings' management clarified that this was not the case. Nevertheless, Shashank Singh, the player supposedly bought in error, redeemed himself spectacularly, transforming potential disgrace into pride for Punjab.
During the match held in Ahmedabad, Shashank Singh smashed 6 boundaries and 4 sixes across his 61-run inning. Together with Ashutosh Sharma, who is also an uncapped 25-year-old player, they snatched the match from Gujarat with their fierce batting, carrying Punjab to the fifth spot on the IPL points table with their second win in four games.
How Shashank Singh Turned the Entire Match Around
Facing a score of 199/4 set by Gujarat Titans after batting first, the team saw a stunning contribution from captain Shubman Gill with 89 runs including six fours and four sixes. Sai Sudharsan, Ken Williamson, and Rahul Tewatia also made valuable contributions to the scoreboard. From Punjab's side, Kagiso Rabada took the lead with two wickets.
After a rocky start in the chase where Punjab lost four wickets by 8.4 overs, including Shikhar Dhawan (01), Jonny Bairstow (22), Prabhsimran Singh (35), and Sam Curran (05), Shashank Singh entered the field. He stabilized the innings, and Ashutosh Sharma, arriving post-Jitesh Sharma's dismissal, joined him to forcefully drive the game into the deciding overs, cementing the win for their team.
The Final Over Drama
In the decisive final over, Punjab needed seven runs. Gujarat's captain Shubman Gill entrusted the ball to Darshan Nalkande, who started with a wicket off the first delivery followed by a wide ball. With six runs required off five balls, Harpreet Brar couldn’t score on the second ball, but managed a single on the next, giving strike to Shashank. A boundary came off the fourth ball and then on the final delivery, Shashank scored a leg bye to secure a dramatic victory for Punjab Kings.
