Punjab Kings registered a memorable win over the Gujarat Titans in a dramatic end on the 2024 Indian Premier League on Thursday, thanks largely to the heroics of their uncapped Indian participant, Shashank Singh. Chasing a difficult 200-run rating in Ahmedabad, Shashank put out a sensational efficiency with the bat, remaining unbeaten on 61 off simply 29 deliveries to safe a much-needed win for the Kings.

Tensions mounted within the public sale room on December 19 when Mallika Sagar, the auctioneer, finalised the bidding course of for Chhattisgarh’s Shashank. Little did she know that it will spark confusion among the many PBKS house owners, Ness Wadia and Preity Zinta, who argued that that they had confused the participant with one other cricketer of the identical identify. Mallika, naturally, questioned their sudden change of coronary heart.

“Was it a wrong name? You don’t want the player?” Mallika’s inquired, prompting a hesitant response from the PBKS camp. It appeared that there had been a mix-up involving Shashank Singh, leaving the house owners in a precarious place. After speculations spiralled on social media over whether or not the PBKS had signed the unsuitable Shashank, the franchise itself stepped ahead to dispel any doubts.

Setting the document straight, PBKS clarified that Shashank Singh had all the time been a goal for his or her squad. Shashank, too, had reacted to the publish from PBKS on X, previously Twitter, insisting that he now seemed ahead to becoming a member of the aspect.

And so, in a poetic method, his innings within the sport towards GT was a real ‘Shashank Redemption’.

Shashank’s blitzkrieg

Shashank emerged because the hero for PBKS within the run-chase after the aspect endured a poor begin to the run-chase. The aspect misplaced its first wicket for simply 13 when Shikhar Dhawan (1) was castled by Umesh Yadav, after which misplaced one other wicket in powerplay when Noor Ahmad dismissed the dangerous-looking Jonny Bairstow for 22. The aspect stored shedding wickets at common intervals and was reeling at 111/5 when Shashank took cost of the chase.

With two boundaries and a towering six towards Umesh, Shashank plundered 17 runs within the eleventh over, igniting hope for the PBKS supporters. Despite the lack of companions on the different finish, he continued to wield his bat with authority, discovering the boundary ropes and clearing the fence with ease.

He was brilliantly supported by one other uncapped batter, Ashutosh Sharma, who performed a brilliant 31-run cameo off simply 17 deliveries. His hitting additional took PBKS close to the whole, however the batter was dismissed off the primary supply of the ultimate over, bringing the stress again on the PBKS.

With the sport hanging within the stability, Shashank, who had reached his fifty off simply 25 deliveries, held his nerve to seal the win for PBKS with a 4 as he returned to the strike.

Throughout his innings, Shashank performed the balls on their deserves, not trying extravagant pictures or premeditating a selected stroke. He was named the participant of the match and thanked the PBKS assist employees for exhibiting religion in him.

“I couldn’t get much matches before, last to last year for SRH but the management, the coaching staff here has really backed me and I was very confident,” Shashank mentioned.