Punjab Kings (PBKS) star Shashank Singh appeared in former India cricketer Aakash Chopra's latest YouTube video. There, he mostly talked about himself, thinking about cricket. In the beginning of the video, Singh said about two particular shots, which he may definitely play against Jasprit Bumrah. 

Through this video, the middle-order batter expressed his desire to play for Team India. The video of Chopra and Singh is not the usual long podcast type; its duration is only 4 minutes and 45 seconds, but it's full of energy and intense, like Shashank's batting. The way he discussed the game reflects a clear vision in mind. He talked about another experienced bowler, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, as well. For Singh Kumar, he has to be watchful for a couple of overs. But for Jasprit Bumrah, the batter has a clear plan in mind. 

"You have to play some particular shots against some particular bowlers. But another thing in belief is to maintain the basics of the batting. When I made 40 off runs against 16 balls against Gujarat Titans, I mostly played the proper cricketing shots like cover drive, cut shot, or flick. I can play a variety of shots, but first, I have to understand the conditions and the mindset of the bowler," Shashank Singh said. 

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Shashank Singh prefers two shots against Jasprit Bumrah 

"If I face Jasprit Bumrah, he's not going to pitch a length delivery. Either he will deliver a yorker or a short-length ball. Then I've only two options—an uppercut for the bouncer and a lap shot for the yorker-length delivery," he added. 

In the final match of IPL 2025 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. 

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. 

Shashank Singh has been the game changer for the Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Punjab Kings in the last couple of seasons. In 14 innings of the 2025 edition, the right-handed batter clubbed 350 runs at an average of 50 and a strike rate of 153.50 with the help of three half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 61 runs.

Shashank, during an interview with CricTracker, was asked about the best advice he received from an Indian cricketer, and the 33-year-old recalled the interaction with Rohit Sharma, who suggested that he keep things simple and not get confused by several suggestions during a fixture.

See Also: CPL 2025, Qualifier 1: Saint Lucia Kings and Guyana Amazon Warriors full match highlights and scorecard

“I have got a lot of advice from cricketers, but one time I got advice from Rohit bhai. I don't remember if it was last year or this year. Usually, when Rohit bhai comes, we ask him a lot of questions about what to do. It was last year. What to do, what not to do, how to play. So, I went to him and asked him what he thought. He told me simply that everyone has a different way of playing.” Shashank revealed during the interview.

Shashank Singh highlights Rohit Sharma’s golden advice during IPL days

Shashank, during the 2024 edition, clubbed 354 runs in 14 innings at an average of 44.25 and a strike rate of 164.65, with the help of two half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 68 runs.

“Make this game very simple. Anyway, a game is very complicated. There is a tension that you should bat 5 overs, you should bat 3 overs, you don't have to give a wicket, power is missing, you don't have to get out. The more you simplify, the better. I should know that I can play my game.” The Punjab Kings batter reflected.

Rohit Sharma has started practice ahead of the three-match ODI series against Australia down under. The Nagpur-born hasn’t been in action since the second qualifier of the IPL 2025. The veteran has already retired from the shortest and longest formats of the game, aiming for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

It was a heart-wrenching result for Punjab Kings (PBKS). It was only their second Indian Premier League (IPL) final, and they were riding high on confidence because of their dominating performances in the group stage of IPL 2025. But it was Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) who won the final by only 6 runs and took the trophy away right in front of Punjab Kings. After the grand finale, when RCB was under all the spotlights and glittering in joy, the PBKS dressing room was behind a curtain of grief. During a recent conversation, PBKS star Shashank Singh described the dressing room atmosphere after the summit clash. He said that their players were crying; he saw tears in the owner's eyes. 

"There were players in the dressing room. They were crying. Our owners were feeling bad. They were very disappointed. I saw their tears. It's different from the media, the fans, and the camera. It's a personal loss. You can't just say, "We lost." It takes a lot of time. I still remember, we had a match in the state league the next day. I thought it would get better. But I couldn't get over the final loss," he said. 

Shashank emerged as the last hope for the Shreyas Iyer-led team on the night of June 3, 2025. He remained unbeaten, scoring 61 off 30 with 3 boundaries and 6 over boundaries. He even hit 22 runs off the last four balls against Josh Hazlewood. But that solo effort with the bat proved not enough to outshine RCB. 

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"...that loss, everyone was hurt. I saw their tears. It took some time, but I think we still believe, and we know now that next year we'll turn around the tables. We'll make sure that those moments are ours," he added. 

Shashank Singh said how PBKS coach and captain used to back their boys

The batter revealed how their head coach, Ricky Ponting, and captain, Shreyas Iyer, backed all of the players. They tried to pull out their best by not putting extra pressure but by showing trust in the players. 

"When we went to the IPL, my practice matches were not that special. But the way Ricky Sir and Shreyas Iyer backed me, they told me, "You're our match winner; we're not going to judge you with two IPL matches." It's just that you go and play with your freedom," Shashank informed. 

A week ago, Punjab Kings left the cricketing fraternity stunned with a stunning run chase in Qualifier 2 of the Indian Premier League 2025 against Mumbai Indians. At the forefront of this effort was skipper Shreyas Iyer, who played an innings to remember of 87* from a mere 41 balls at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium. His brilliance took Punjab to the IPL final, even though their journey was halted in disappointment by a defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on June 3.

Following the ferocious battle against Mumbai, the emotions remained charged as the players greeted each other with traditional handshakes. It was in this instant that Iyer was seen lashing out at teammate Shashank Singh using harsh words in what seemed like an animated argument. Shashank later reported that the tantrum was a result of his own carefree nature at a pivotal moment of the match, and one that could have been expensive. Though the incident created a tense situation, he subsequently ate with Iyer for dinner, acknowledging that the rebuke was warranted.

Shashank openly accepted his loss of concentration and went further to say, "I deserve it; Iyer should have slapped me; my father didn't speak to me till the finals." He admitted, "I was casual; I was walking on the beach, not even in the garden." It was an important moment; Shreyas was firm that I didn't expect this from you, but afterwards he treated me to dinner." The event did not have any impact on their personal equation, reflecting the leadership and maturity of the Punjab Kings captain. 

Praise for a Leader Who Leads with Balance

Even in the wake of the incident, Shashank Singh praised Shreyas Iyer's captaincy to the hilt and labeled him the best captain of present times in world cricket. "Whatever I have told others and witnessed, there is no better captain than him at present times in world cricket," he opined. He pressed upon how Iyer allows his teammates freedom along with accountability, forming a well-balanced atmosphere in which all find a place and are motivated to perform."

Also Read: 3 players RCB should consider trading in after IPL 2025 ft. Smaran Ravichandran

Shashank further commented, "He gives us space; he treats everybody alike. Nobody will say, Shreyas has an attitude. The young ones in the dressing room can get along with him as a chill bandaa (chill guy). Shreyas is the lone captain, who informed us that if somebody has any idea while playing, he can come and tell it to him". If he thinks it's the right counsel, he will accept it. It's not common." This mix of authority and accessibility has turned Shreyas Iyer into one of the most well-respected and successful captains in contemporary cricket.

In a stunning scenario after Punjab Kings' (PBKS) dramatic win over Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL 2025 Qualifier 2, skipper Shreyas Iyer was seen directing his frustration at teammate Shashank Singh. The incident occurred as the teams shook hands during the post-match. Iyer's frustration boiled over after Shashank showed no urgency while running between the wickets during a key moment of the match, which may have cost PBKS the match. Iyer's response demonstrated the level of emotion and desperation involved in the moment and the level of intensity in a match.

This incident illustrates the emotion and pressure involved in playoff situations where every run and every decision is ultimately huge. Shashank is known for his big hitting - and for his calm demeanor - which perhaps made it all the more disappointing that during the tensest part of the game he seemed to be jogging between the wickets, which prompted Iyer's response. This incident did not eclipse PBKS's performance overall, but it shows fine margins often define success.

Shreyas Iyer's Match-Winning Knock

Shreyas Iyer's unbeaten 87 from 41 balls was instrumental in PBKS's Qualifier 2 triumph against MI, stabilizing and taking the chase to the end under pressure. His well-judged risks and big shots kept PBKS on track, winning a five-wicket victory with an over to spare.

Watch the video here

#PBKSvsMI Shreyas Iyer angry on Shashank for His absence in running between games … pic.twitter.com/RCMPwJscvY

— . (@itzfcking18) June 1, 2025

Also Read: IPL 2025, Qualifier 2: Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians Full Match Highlights

PBKS currently comes up against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL 2025 Final, and this encounter promises to be high-stakes and fiercely competitive as both teams battle for the much-desired title. Fans are equally thrilled by the prospect that this match could finally break a year-long title drought for both teams. Notably, in the entire history of the IPL, neither side has ever clinched the championship.

In their last league match of IPL 2025, Punjab Kings beat five-time champions Mumbai Indians to claim the top spot in the points table. With this win, Punjab Kings have secured a place in the top two. Now, the final league match between RCB and LSG will decide who else joins them. Earlier, explosive Punjab Kings batsman Shashank Singh predicted his team would finish in the top two—and he was right.

In a recent interview, Shashank spoke about the team’s success under captain Shreyas Iyer and coach Ricky Ponting. He said that right after the auction, he set a goal in their WhatsApp group: “First finish in the top two, then win the IPL.” He also shared the story of their first team meeting.

Also Read -[WATCH] Yuzvendra Chahal celebrates with PBKS youngsters after topping IPL 2025 table

Shashank Singh had predicted before the tournament that Punjab Kings would finish in the top 2, and now his words have come true. In an old interview on Shubhankar Mishra's podcast, Shashank confidently said that this time, Punjab would be among the top teams. After Punjab Kings' big win over Mumbai Indians, that video has started going viral once again. The franchise also shared the old clip of Shashank’s statement on their social media.

Shashank Singh said, "after the auction, we manifested it on our WhatsApp group to finish in Top 2 first and then win the IPL". pic.twitter.com/RCSzD7SFQb

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 27, 2025

After Punjab (PBKS) secured their spot in the top 2, Shashank reacted by saying, “This season we played as a team. After the auction, we created a WhatsApp group and spoke about winning the title this year. Our first goal was to come in the top 2, and we have crossed that hurdle.” Punjab Kings have now reached Qualifier 1 after 11 years. The last time they reached this stage was in 2014. Now, under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer, the team will get two chances to make it to the final and aim to win their first IPL trophy.

Even before the 2025 edition of IPL began, Shashank Singh predicted that Punjab Kings (PBKS) would be in the top 2, and now, after the 14th match of the league, PBKS is in first place after defeating Mumbai Indians at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Singh, on March 17, 2025, predicted that their team will be at the top of the points table.

He was confident about finishing in the top 2 after the 14th match, the last match of the league stage. The PBKS batter predicted that on March 17, and that actually happened in real life on May 26. Punjab Kings outclassed Mumbai Indians by 7 wickets and 9 balls to spare. 

Yesterday (May 26), batting first, Mumbai Indians scored 184 for 7. Suryakumar Yadav at number 3 tried his best with another half-century on board, this time 57 off 39, to take Mumbai Indians to a fighting total of 184. The match was similarly crucial for both teams, as PBKS and MI both had a chance to confirm a top 2 spot. Iyer's PBKS was unstoppable; they achieved the total with 7 wickets and 9 balls to spare. Josh Inglis, for his 73 off 42, got the man of the match award. Shreyas Iyer remained not out for 26, facing 16 balls.

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After the PBKS vs. MI match, Shreyas Iyer led the side, now in first position with 19 points after 14 games. Gujarat Titans is in the second spot with 18 points in 14 matches, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, remaining to play their last league match, currently has 17 points in 13 games. Mumbai Indians, with 16 points, are in the 4th spot after playing 14 matches. 

Singh predicted about 4 more teams

Not only on the future of Punjab Kings, Shashank Singh also predicted correctly about three other teams also—Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Mumbai Indians. The middle-order batter said before that KKR, the defending champion, may not be able to make their way to the top 4 because their skipper, Shreyas Iyer, joined PBKS, and now that's the truth: KKR is knocked out. 

Watch the prediction here

17th March - Shashank Singh said Punjab Kings will finish in the Top 2.

26th May - Punjab Kings finishes in the Top 2 and plays Qualifier 1. 🥶 pic.twitter.com/mP7BRj3Ik0

— Shubhankar Mishra (@shubhankrmishra) May 26, 2025

Singh further predicted that Mumbai and Bengaluru can progress further in IPL 2025 along with PBKS. But he was wrong about Sunrisers Hyderabad. He thought that Hyderabad could be in the top 4, but they couldn't. 

On May 26th, PBKS decimated MI in a high-octane thriller to storm their way to the top of the points table on the back of a swashbuckling 7-wicket victory. Josh Inglis (73 off 42) and Priyansh Arya (62 off 35) went all guns blazing with the bat and helped PBKS chase down a tricky target of 185 with nine balls to spare. A finish in the top two will give PBKS two chances of making it to the finals.

On the backdrop of a dazzling win from PBKS, Shahsank Singh showered heaps of praise on Ricky Poting and Shreyas Iyer and lauded them for their tactical brilliance. The PBKS captain, Shreyas Iyer, now finds himself on the cusp of a rare feat as the possibility of two consecutive title wins for him looms large.

See also: Top 3 reasons why Mumbai Indians Lost to Punjab Kings in IPL 2025 Match 69

Shashank shares his perspective on the PBKS team culture

Shashank commended Ponting and Shreyas for instilling a positive cultural transformation within the team. He even went on to admit that Chahal, who is the seniormost player in their squad, would be treated the same way as their team bus driver. 

"Day 1, Ricky Ponting and Shreyas both told us. Like, they will treat Yuzvendra Chahal, maybe the most senior player, and our bus driver the same. I mean, this is something and they have maintained this. They have shown the same respect to Yuzvendra Chahal and to our bus driver, which says a lot about the team."

PBKS's off-field attitude to care and respect for one another has had a positive bearing on their performances on the field. Team members from all walks of life, irrespective of their seniority, are being treated the same way. Seeing something like this can go a long way in helping PBKS transform their overall team mindset. 

As far as Chahal's participation in the future IPL games is concerned, the veteran leggie continues to be in the injury cloud and, in all likelihood, will miss the playoffs this year due to a finger injury. The outcome of today's IPL fixture between LSG and RCB tonight will determine the final standings and the playoff fixtures. 

Punjab Kings (PBKS), in a crucial moment against Rajasthan Royals (RR), found a match-winning captain in the form of Shashank Singh, who was leading the team from the front after their regular skipper, Shreyas Iyer, subbed off from the field due to injury reasons.

Royals, with young openers in front, produced a blazing trail in the initial stage of the second inning. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi were looking unstoppable, dealing with only boundaries and over boundaries, until Singh asked Harpreet Brar to step onto the floor.

The spinner, who replaced Iyer in the lineup, took the wickets of RR openers. Along with Brar, credit goes to stand-in captain Shashank Singh for utilizing the bowler at the right time. In the end, PBKS defeated RR by a margin of 10 runs. Shashank Singh was mostly an unknown face until Punjab bought him into the squad for IPL 2024, followed by a retention during the IPL 2025 mega auction.

Read More: 3 major reasons behind PBKS qualifying for playoffs after 11 years in IPL 2025

Shashank will welcome new role if PBKS assigns

After the heroic win against the Royals, Singh shared more information about his career. The lower middle batter revealed that he gained leadership experiences in the DY Patil T20 tournament, and he will be open to doing the same if PBKS offers. 

"I have been leading in the DY Patil T20 tournament for five years, and touch wood, I’m doing good so far. Even for Chhattisgarh, if the management considers me capable of leading the side, I will accept it happily. I feel that I have the ability to lead a side and win a championship. Similarly, if Punjab Kings wants 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," he said in an interview.