New Delhi: Shashank Singh, a batter for Punjab Kings, is working hard to get even better after an impressive IPL season. To shake things up this year, he plans to use the reverse sweep shot more often on slower pitches and avoid making silly mistakes so his team can win more games. Last season, even though Punjab Kings didn’t do great, Shashank stood out as he scored 354 runs with a strike rate of 164.65, impressing his good friend, India captain Suryakumar Yadav.
Shashank, who started playing professional cricket at 27 after moving from Mumbai to Chhattisgarh, is looking forward to reuniting with friends like Shreyas Iyer and Shadul Thakur in Punjab Kings. He and Prabhsimran Singh were the only players kept by the team before the big auction.
In a talk with us during the team’s practice in Chandigarh, Shashank shared that he’s preparing for his third IPL season. “I’ve been meeting with coaches and teammates since last season. We have a solid team,” he said. He admits that he needs to learn to play better on the unique Chandigarh pitch because they struggled at home last year.
With opponents becoming more familiar with his style, Shashank is focusing on fine-tuning his batting skills. “I’m learning to reverse sweep, which will help me on slow pitches. I’ve practiced over 1,000 balls,” he added. He also emphasizes the importance of making smarter decisions during the game, noting that it’s not always wise to take big risks, especially against top bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah.
Shashank hopes to perform well this season to catch the eye of national selectors, but his main focus is on helping his team win. “If the team needs me to bat slowly or quickly, I’m ready for both,” he mentioned. He recalls valuable advice from MS Dhoni, who told him that winning a few games for the team makes you one of the best players.
Shashank is excited to work with his old friend Shreyas and coach Ricky Ponting, who he considers one of the best. “I’ve prepared questions for Ricky Sir, and I can’t wait to learn from him,” said Shashank, eager for the new season.
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