In Aakash Chopra's latest YouTube video, Shashank Singh was his guest. In the quick-paced video, the Punjab Kings (PBKS) batter talked about multiple aspects of cricket. The middle-order clarifies that he wants to represent India. 

During a brief conversation with former India cricketer Aakash Chopra, Shashank said that he definitely wants to play for India, but probably not in Test cricket. During the conversation Shashank was clear about his thoughts and opinions. He is now 33 and a lot more mature as a cricketer; he wants to play for Team India mainly for the limited overs format. 

The PBKS star described that for him, Test cricket means a combination of patience, temperament, and fitness. Shashank is a more attacking batsman and treats himself as an all-rounder, so he thinks that rather than a multi-day match, white-ball cricket is good for him, where he can play with dominance. 

Read More: Watch: Prabhsimran Singh's practice video with Yuvraj Singh after scoring century for India A

Shashank Singh explains why he prefers to play white ball cricket

"I want to bat with a certain strike rate and want to dominate. In red ball cricket, there is also scope for dominance, but there is a demand for good patience and dominance... As long as I know my game, I want only to dominate, which is not appropriate for red ball cricket. In the Ranji Trophy also I try to control myself," Shashank Singh explains why he wants to put more focus on limited-over matches. 

The dominance Singh was talking about during the episode was reflected during the IPL 2025, when PBKS qualified for the final match after a remarkable performance in the group stage. In the final match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the right-handed batter played an unbeaten 61 runs, but his effort was in vain. In 14 IPL 2025 innings, he scored 350 runs at an amazing batting average of 50.00. 

A commendable victory for India A team chasing Australia A (IND A vs AUS A) team's first innings: 316 runs at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. The high-scoring encounter between these teams was more entertaining because of Prabhsimran Singh, who played a match-deciding102-run innings against 68 deliveries, maintaining a strike rate of 150.00. His innings was laced with eight 4s and seven 6s. 

The Australia A team, captained by Jack Edwards, registered 316 runs in the first innings of the match. The Aussie skipper himself scored 89 off 75, which was the highest individual score of the match for the team. Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana did their bowling part well by clinching 6 wickets together. Arshdeep took 3, and Harshit took 3. Ayush Badoni claimed a brace. Arshdeep was the best bowler of the game, as he spent only 38 runs in 10 overs, including a couple of maiden overs, and claimed 3 scalps. 

The target of 317 runs was stiff enough to chase down. But India A was ready with their own version of attacking batting. For the opening pair, Prabhsimran and Abhishek Sharma stitched an 83-run partnership in 11.2 overs. 

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PBKS praised the effort 

Australia A team found some glimpses of hope as they quickly got rid of Sharma and Tilak Varma. But Prabhsimran Singh was then in full flow, making strokes on both sides of the field. The opener showed no mercy for Cooper Connolly, Tanveer Sangha, or Jack Edwards. On the first ball of the 20th over, he made a poor connection on a Tanveer Sangha delivery and was caught out. Prabhsimran departed for a well-made 102, which was for a winning cause. 

Just Prabh power lighting up Kanpur 🔥🫶#IndAvAUS pic.twitter.com/LUgRuaE6hy

— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) October 5, 2025

Punjab Kings, the runner-up of the previous Indian Premier League season, from their official social media platforms shared an appreciation post for the batter's heroic innings in Kanpur. In the IPL 2025, the batter was one of the key instruments for PBKS' dominating run in the group stage. 

The domestic left-arm spinner of the Indian side, Harpreet Brar, was part of the Punjab Kings side that ended as the runners-up of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. With the bat, he had a decent season with the ball to earn success. 

Brar picked up 10 wickets in seven innings during the 2025 edition of the IPL at an average of 19 and a strike rate of 13.2 with an economy rate of nearly nine at the best bowling figure of 3/22 in an inning. The left-arm spinner over the year has done a decent job with the ball in the middle overs to hold the batters from playing the big shots.

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He shared a funny video with his friends on Instagram that has gone viral on various social media platforms. In that video, one of his friends asked him to multiply two numbers, to which Brar shivered his body to provide the correct answer.

Watch: Harpreet Brar makes funny video of his calculation skills

On the second question of the same multiplication, Brar made the same action to offer the right answer. However, the third attempt was different. This time, his friend asked another friend to hold both hands of the spinner tightly and then asked the question, only to get the wrong answer.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Harpreet Brar (@harpreetsbrar95)

Overall in his career, the left-arm spinner from the Punjab side has picked up 19 wickets in 17 innings at an average of 32.26 and a strike rate of 42.7 with an economy rate of under five in the List A career. On the other hand, in T20s, he has collected 87 scalps in 93 innings at an average of 25.18 and a strike rate of nearly 21 with an economy rate of 7.39.

Brar is expected to return in action during the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 and later in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26 season, along with the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He will look to develop his skills with the ball and little with the bat in the middle overs of the innings.

One chance, and Sanju Samson hit the bullseye. On the evening of September 19, 2025, Sanju for the first time walked into the crease to bat in the Asia Cup 2025, and scored a half century, and got the Player of the Match award as well. After the match-winning performance, Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Punjab Kings (PBKS) shared a post that attracted attention from cricket lovers. 

PBKS, in the post, appreciated Sanju Samson's performance against Oman, which IPL franchises often do. But the most interesting part of their post is the caption. In the caption, PBKS wrote, "The person you're calling is currently busy." In the photo they used in the post, we can see the keeper-batter busy in a phone call. 

The person you're calling is currently busy! 😌💪#SanjuSamson #INDvOMA pic.twitter.com/ezQYrn9K2q

— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) September 19, 2025

Ahead of IPL 2026, speculations about Sanju Samson's IPL future are tremendous. There are strong beliefs that the top-order batter wished to leave his present IPL franchise, Rajasthan Royals (RR). If he left RR, then which other franchises would he like to play for? According to several claims, multiple clubs have interests in the proven talent. Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings are among the rumored clubs who are probably linked with the Team India star. 

Read More: [WATCH] IND vs OMA, Asia Cup 2025: Hammad Mirza hammered Kuldeep Yadav for two back-to-back 6s

Punjab Kings interested in Sanju Samson?

PBKS emerged as a surprise package in the previous edition of the Indian Premier League, where they went to play the final for the second time in the history of the IPL. Throughout the IPL 2025 group stage, PBKS, under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer and head coach Ricky Ponting, dominated the group stage. In the final of IPL 2025, they met Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who claimed their maiden IPL trophy. 

Punjab Kings formed their squad around a bunch of underrated cricketers, where Shreyas Iyer was probably the only star attraction. Ahead of a new season, and a mini auction before that, the runner-up of IPL 2025 will try to do some reinforcement work. It'll be interesting to see which players they sign and a confirmation from Sanju Samson as well. 

India are set to face Pakistan in a high-voltage Asia Cup 2025 clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 14. The much-anticipated fixture has already drawn attention, but this time not just for cricketing reasons.

The match has sparked controversy, with certain groups raising objections to India competing against Pakistan, citing terrorism-related concerns. Amid this backdrop, the IPL franchise Punjab Kings made headlines by taking an unusual approach in their social media announcement of the game, where they avoided mentioning Pakistan’s name entirely, focusing only on India’s participation.

Meanwhile, a petition seeking an urgent cancellation of the India-Pakistan encounter was brought before the Supreme Court. However, the court dismissed the request, clearing the way for the marquee match to go ahead as scheduled. Despite the off-field issues, fans worldwide eagerly await the contest, which continues to remain one of the most watched rivalries in international cricket.

See Also: India vs Australia Women’s 2025 ODI series: schedule, squads, venues, timings and streaming details

Punjab Kings’ Unique Social Media Post on Match:

Punjab Kings created a stir with their social media post on India’s upcoming clash, where they chose not to mention Pakistan as the opponent. The decision triggered strong reactions from fans, leading the franchise to disable the comment section on their X handle to manage the heated responses and ongoing debate surrounding the move.

Game 2️⃣ for the defending champions. Let's goooo 💪#AsiaCup2025 #INDv pic.twitter.com/BgeoRfJjMo

— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) September 11, 2025

The Supreme Court petition raised strong objections to India facing Pakistan in cricket, citing strained relations and recent terror attacks such as Phalangam and Operation Sindoor, where Indian soldiers were martyred. Petitioners argued that sporting ties send out the wrong signal in such circumstances. The plea clearly emphasized these concerns while challenging the scheduled fixture.

The petition stated, "Cricket between nations is meant to show harmony and friendship. But after the Phalagam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, when our people died and our soldiers risked everything, playing with Pakistan sent the opposite message that while our soldiers sacrificed their lives, we are celebrating sports with the same country sheltering terrorists."

The petitioners voiced concern that playing against Pakistan could hurt the sentiments of families affected by terrorism. They stressed that the nation’s dignity and citizens’ safety must outweigh sporting entertainment. According to the plea, holding such matches risks lowering the morale of both the armed forces and the country during sensitive times.

India-Pakistan cricket encounters always attract huge attention, fueled not only by intense sporting rivalry but also by the nations’ tense political history. The upcoming match in Dubai has reignited discussions on the intersection of sports and politics in the region, highlighting how cricket remains a focal point for both fans and broader socio-political conversations.

Chris Gayle made a shocking claim and said he felt depressed during his last year in the Indian Premier League (IPL). At that time, he was playing for the Punjab Kings (PBKS). The team was captained by Indian star KL Rahul, and the coach was the legendary spinner Anil Kumble.

The Universe Boss, Chris Gayle, is one of the best T20 players ever. He has scored over 14,500 runs and has played in almost every franchise league around the world. Speaking on Shubhankar Mishra’s podcast, Gayle said the franchise disrespected him. He also said he broke down while talking to then-coach Anil Kumble about his mental health.

Also Read -On This Day: Sachin Tendulkar registered his first ODI hundred

Chris Gayle Opens Up About IPL Exit and PBKS Journey

“My IPL ended early with Punjab. I was disrespected at Kings XI Punjab. I felt I wasn’t treated properly as a senior player who had done a lot for the league and added value to the team. Instead, they treated me like a kid. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was slipping into depression,” Gayle said.

He added that money meant nothing compared to his mental health at that time. “Your mental health is more important than money. I called Anil Kumble and told him I was leaving. During the World Cup bubble, it was mentally draining. After my last game against Mumbai, I thought, ‘Staying will only hurt me more.’”

Gayle said he broke down talking to Kumble because he was really hurt. He was disappointed with him and the way the franchise was run. KL Rahul, the captain, called him saying, “Chris, stay, you’ll play the next game.” But Gayle replied, “I wish you all the best,” packed his bag, and walked out.

When asked about a possible IPL return, the two-time T20 World Cup winner said he was open but admitted there were grudges. “I was mistreated. I am available—if they want me, I’ll come. But yes, I do have grudges. Loyalty means a lot to me,” he said.

CHRIS GAYLE ON PUNJAB KINGS:

"My IPL ended prematurely with Punjab. I was disrespected at Kings XI. I felt I wasn’t treated properly as a senior who had done so much for the league and bring so much value, But you're being disrespected & they are treated me like a kid. For the… pic.twitter.com/KBbfv7Q8uz

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) September 8, 2025

IPL 2021 and Gayle’s Career at PBKS

Gayle was talking about IPL 2021, when he left the camp mid-way during the second phase in the UAE, after the league resumed following the COVID-19 suspension. He played two of the three resumed games that season. In total, he played 10 matches and scored 193 runs at an average of 21.44.

With 4,965 runs in 142 IPL matches at an average of 39.72 and a strike rate of 148.92, including six centuries, Gayle is one of the greatest players in IPL history. He joined PBKS in 2018 and stayed until his final season in 2021.

The former West Indies opening batter and a long-time IPL star, Chris Gayle, who is known to be the ‘Universe Boss’ for his aggressive batting, has always been a fun-loving character as he has been a regular member across the globe in various T20 franchises, finding himself in most of the all-time T20 XIs. 

However, his IPL career was disrupted with the Punjab Kings in IPL 2021 as he remarked on the bubble fatigue for leaving the side, but also slammed them for disrespecting him. The veteran claimed that he was depressed during his days at the Punjab Kings’ side.

See Also: [WATCH] 'You deserve to be...'- Shreyas Iyer reveals frustration on not getting deserving spot in Indian team for Asia Cup 2025

“Oh my IPL ended prematurely, you know, with Punjab, to be honest with you. Yeah, I mean, absolutely, I mean, I was disrespected in the franchise, Punjab Kings XI. You know, I felt like I wasn’t being treated properly for a senior guy who has done so much for the league, you know, bring so much value to the franchise as well.” Gayle expressed during a podcast show with Shubhankar Mishra.  

Chris Gayle reveals his depression with Anil Kumble for Punjab Kings

Gayle, the 10th leading IPL run-getter with 4965 runs in 141 innings at a strike rate of 148.96 with 31 fifties and six centuries, reckoned that he was incredibly sad with Anil Kumble as he left the tournament after their clash against the Mumbai Indians when he batted at three and got one run in four balls.

“And then you’re being disrespected and they treat you like a kid, you know, and then pretty much I’m just like I felt like the building was on my shoulder. That’s the first time in my life I ever felt like being in a depressive mode. So when people speak about depression, I can get a little sense of that, and it wasn’t for me.” Gayle added in the interaction.

“Oh yeah, I cried, and I was disappointed with Anil and how the entire thing was actually run, the franchise was actually run at that time, and I said, listen, man, thank you. KL Rahul was the captain. He called me and said, “Yo, Chris, you know, you want to stay, you’ll play the next game.” And I said Listen to me, man, I wish you guys all the very best.” The southpaw concluded.

The former right-arm pacer of the Punjab Kings, Sandeep Sharma, who features in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Rajasthan Royals, has opened up on the importance of understanding the basic difference between the international and Indian Premier League (IPL) leadership, as the debate has been regarding the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer.

Despite his incredible performance as the captain of the Kings to end as the runners-up of the IPL 2025, Iyer wasn’t considered for the Asia Cup 2025 squad, while many reckoned that he should have gotten the leadership responsibilities. That’s where Sandeep has begged to differ.

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“See, this debate that he, as a captain, took his teams to the finals, Surya is not doing the captaincy of any franchise. So, that is not the criterion to be the captain of the Indian side. And for the last three years, Rohit was not doing the captaincy of any franchise. But still, he was the captain of the T20 Indian team and one-day side as the leader.” Sharma expressed during an interview with CricTracker.  

Sandeep Sharma reveals if Shreyas Iyer should become India’s captain

Iyer was in tremendous touch for Punjab in IPL 2025 for his 604 runs in 17 innings at an average of 50.33 and a strike rate of nearly 175 with six fifties. Sandeep revealed how, for international captains, the most important aspect is to handle the 15 players in a better way.

“So, that’s not the criteria that you have to be the leader in the IPL. IPL is totally different. It’s a domestic league. It’s the domestic league of the BCCI, right? And when you are picking an international team, you are picking 15 people. So you are picking a captain who will manage those 15 people better there.” The Patiala-born addressed.

“Here in the IPL, you have a lot of domestic players, a lot of young players. Some of them come from overseas. And in international cricket, you are picking someone who will manage your 15 better. So for that debate, I feel senseless about what he’s doing in the IPL. These teams are two different sides. I feel people need to learn and understand more about this thing.” Sandeep Sharma concluded.

Shreyas Iyer’s international return may be delayed, but the stylish Indian batter continues to shine off the field. Away from cricket, he has created history with his association with Nike, becoming part of their latest global initiative.

Nike has recently launched its global campaign "Why Do It?", which celebrates athletes in different disciplines. In a historic moment, Iyer became the only Indian athlete in the campaign, allowing him to feature on the global platform.

The Nike brand has been big in Indian cricket for years, with several of the top players linked to the company. With its new campaign “Why Do It?” Nike has shifted its focus to aim to inspire young sportspeople, and the message now defines greatness as a choice rather than an outcome. This new message carries forward the legacy of “Just Do It” but captures a new generation.

Iyer shares spotlight with global icons

The campaign has brought together some of the world’s biggest sporting names. Alongside stars like tennis ace Carlos Alcaraz, NFL player Saquon Barkley, and basketball legend LeBron James, Shreyas Iyer’s presence made history as he became the sole Indian athlete included.

See Also: [WATCH] 'Didn't have a good series against England' - Former Team India batter’s bold remark on Suryakumar Yadav ahead of 2025 Asia Cup

However, on the cricketing front, things haven’t gone smoothly for the PBKS skipper. After being left out of India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad despite strong white-ball performances, he returned to domestic action in the Duleep Trophy. Batting at number five for West Zone in the semifinal against North Zone, Iyer made a brief 25 off 28 balls with four boundaries, leaving fans still waiting for one of his trademark impactful innings.

The runners-up from the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Punjab Kings (PBKS), who lost the final under Shreyas Iyer’s leadership against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), have extended their helping hand to donate a huge amount to the relief fund for the flood-hit Punjab. In decades, it’s the worst flood for the state.

The Punjab Kings have donated INR 33.8 lakh in relief funds. As per the present data received by the government of the state, the calamity has claimed 37 lives and affected over 3.5 lakh people. As of now, 23 districts have been declared flood-affected.

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In a tragic situation, Punjab has come forward to help the state by partnering with the Hemkunt Foundation and Round Table India for their ‘Together for Punjab’ campaign. On their X account (formerly known as Twitter), the 2014 runners-up of the IPL have announced their support for the flood-affected Punjab. It will be a great support for the people living in the state.

Punjab Kings extends helping hand to donate INR 33.8 lakh for flood-hit Punjab

Apart from the donation, the franchise has also launched a fundraising campaign to raise INR 2 crore. This money will be collected and donated to the Global Sikh Charity, which will use the aid to further assist the effort of rebuilding the state. More than a thousand villages have been affected, and nearly 61000 hectares of farmland have been submerged, displacing 1.46 million residents.

Together for Punjab! ♥️#PunjabKings pic.twitter.com/yb0ZwtC9DF

— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) September 4, 2025

The floods, driven by the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi Rivers, were triggered by the immense rainfall in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. The rescue operations are already going on, with 11000 people evacuated to safe areas, with the assistance of the Army, NDRF, BSF, and local authorities.

Punjab Kings ended the group-stage encounters at the top of the points table, having earned nine victories in 14 games at a net run rate of +0.372. They faced only four defeats at a net run rate of +0.372. Under Iyer, their batting looked solid, while the head coach, Ricky Ponting, and his management were excellent in understanding the strength of the side and working around that playing eleven.