'Felt like maybe cricket wasn’t for me'- Shashank Singh opens up on going unsold in IPL 2023 auction [Exclusive]

The Mumbai-born cricketer Shashank Singhhas had a rollercoaster ride in the Indian Premier League. Having represented Delhi Daredevils (2017), Rajasthan Royals (2019–21), Sunrisers Hyderabad (2022), and now with Punjab Kings (PBKS).

However, in the 2023 auction, Shashank went unsold, a phase he admitted was difficult to process. But he bounced back strongly, making PBKS’ decision to rope him in for INR 20 lakh in 2024. His heroics, including an unbeaten 61* against the Gujarat Titans and a match-winning

68* versus the Kolkata Knight Riders, made him one of Punjab’s most reliable finishers. Notably, PBKS retained him for IPL 2025 at a massive INR 5.50 crore.

In an exclusive conversation with CricTracker, Shashank reflected on his IPL career and future goals. He also opined about captaining PBKS in a game this season. The 33-year-old also admitted that the competition for making it into the national team motivates him rather than adding pressure.

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Excerpts

You mostly bat in the lower-middle order. When you come in late and there are only a few overs left, what is your mindset at that time?

I always try to stay calm, because there are so many thoughts running through your mind when you go out to bat. Over the years, I’ve realized that it’s all about being in the present moment. Sometimes, you tend to get caught up in the past or start thinking too far ahead about how to win the game. But really, it’s about focusing on the ball that’s coming to you and playing it the right way. I make my best effort to stay composed and trust myself that if I stay calm, I’ll be able to do well for my team.

You also lead in the count of 50s and 30+ scores as a finisher in IPL. What techniques or mindset help you to repeatedly deliver these impactful innings for your team?

It always feels great to have scored the most 50s and 30s in the finishing role in a global event like the IPL, especially when you’ve some of the best players of the world like Nicholas Pooran and Heinrich Klaasen. It gives me a sense that I’m doing something right.I truly believe it’s possible because I focus on staying at the crease and don’t overthink the situation. My aim is always to get the maximum return with the least risk. For me, staying on the wicket is the most important thing, so I can help take my team forward in the game

Looking at your IPL 2024 and 2025 stats — 520 runs at a 65 average, top scorer in death overs, and most times not out — what would you say about that performance?

I always feel that if not me, then who will win it for the team? At that level, it’s very important to take responsibility. I’ve seen many players at the domestic and club level who shy away from taking that responsibility, but I’ve always been someone who likes to step up.I believe it’s possible because I’m out there giving my best. If I don’t believe in myself, who else will? For me, self-belief is everything. When I believe in myself, I know anything is possible. Whatever numbers I’m putting up today are a result of that strong self-belief - that confidence that I can do it for my team

Also, whenever you batted at positions 4 or 5, your average was 70.29 with a strike rate of 170.83. What is the secret behind this consistency and explosiveness?

One important thing I’ve learned in life, especially from AB de Villiers, is to accept things as they come. People talk about my average being around 70 and my strike rate being over 170 at 4 or 5, but there were definitely innings where I got out for single-digit scores.What I’ve always learned is that you have to move on from failures quickly. Just accept them, because at the end of the day, you’re only human. I understood early on that failure is part of the game, and acceptance is key. I still strongly believe that I am the best, but at the same time, I’ve learned to accept that sometimes you fail. That mindset helps me bounce back the next day and aim to be in a better zone.

You went unsold in the IPL 2023 auction. How did you deal with that experience, and what did you learn from it?

I was really hurt because I had high expectations from myself. That season turned out to be an average one for me, and I know I could’ve performed much better. The mistake I made was setting too many expectations for the next year. I was living in a future that didn’t exist yet. That year taught me a lot, especially with the support and advice from my Mom, Dad and Sister. At one point, I even felt like maybe cricket wasn’t for me. But then I realized that what I really needed was confidence in myself to push harder.I always wanted to become the best white-ball player in the country. People often say that batting at No. 6 or No. 7 leads to a downfall, but I wanted to prove them wrong. Today, I feel I’m on the right track towards achieving that goal.

In IPL 2025, you captained PBKS in a match. When do you see yourself becoming a permanent captain for your state team? How are you preparing yourself for that responsibility?

I am extremely keen to lead the state team. I don't know why, but I believe that I have that cricketing brain, cricketing smartness. I have that calmness also in me, which is required for a captain. When you talk about the match in which Shreyas was injured, I was the captain. I led the match. It was against Rajasthan Royals and that was a tricky match because it was a qualifying match. So I have that belief that I have played in Bombay as well in DY Patil. So I have played in many franchises. I have played under Steve Smith. I have not played in matches, but I was in the team. Kane Williamson was there, Rohit Sharma was there, Shreyas was there. So I grabbed a lot of things from these people. So now I feel it is the right time for me to lead my state. Because even now when I have to talk to other players, the way I explain them, my comfort level and I think now is the time that I have to give back to my state. What they have done for me, now it is the right time to give my state. I need to win those championships for the state cricket as well. So I am very eager to lead my state side as well. I mean obviously it is under management, but white ball format, I am extremely keen to lead and I know that our state is so talented… just that we have to nourish them. It is important to develop a culture. The way I played cricket last year in Punjab, I realised that it is very important to develop a culture. So I also want to bring that culture to my state’s cricket. And let's win some championships this year.

You recently received the Lala Amarnath Award for Best All-Rounder in domestic cricket. Do you think this strengthens your chances of an India call-up?

I can't say that I expect such a thing. I've won the Lala Amarnath Award, I've performed, I've taken wickets, I've taken catches. Obviously, I've done everything. But India, again, India is the dream. But again, if I say that I expect, yes, I know that I'm somewhere close. I'm close to that thing. But again, if I think about it again and again, I'll be under pressure. So, it feels good to hear that I've won an award which is difficult. You play cricket in 35 states. In every state, there are so many all-rounders. They do batting, they do bowling, they do it so well. But again, to rise above that is a big thing. Again, there's a lot of hard work, there's a lot of support from the people. There's support from the fans, there's support from the coaches, there's support from my family. What you're saying about being close, I feel that I'm close. But again, my job is to play 100% honestly. And obviously, I'm pretty sure that good things will happen. So, you told me that there will be a call-up. But again, it will be step-by-step. And I think I'm very close and whatever happens, it will happen very soon.

India’s bench strength is very strong. Does this competition motivate you or put pressure on you?

You are playing sports, you are playing India's biggest sport. You are going to a global event So there is pressure on you But you have chosen this sport. There is no question of pressure. There is a healthy competition in this team. Everyone is doing well I am not saying that In Indian cricket team, which we are playing at this level. No one wants to beat anyone. Everyone wants to be better than themselves I want to be better than last year. I want to be even better again next year. I want to be my own competition. I know that I am doing very well; I am the best. But I want to be my own best version. Like I told you, my first season was very good but I wanted to do better than this I don't want to compare, I want to be my own best version. Competition is a battle I want to do better than myself I don't want to compare. This is a good thing for a country, for a state. Wherever you are playing If there is a competition, your graph goes up.

Yuzvendra Chahal picked four wickets in one of the games in IPL 2025, winning a low-scoring encounter over KKR. What was the dressing room environment like after that game?

A match like that has never happened before in the 18-year history of the IPL. Even at the domestic or club level, I’ve never experienced something like it. The team scored around 100 runs, and I scored 18. It was one of those goosebump moments. I actually need to go back and watch the highlights as I speak to you.Yuzi bowled unbelievably well in that game, and after that performance, we were completely pumped up. Matches like these don’t happen once every season - they come once in 15 or 20 years. You wouldn’t believe it, but I’ve played at venues like Chinnaswamy, Wankhede, and Chepauk, where the fan following is absolutely crazy and well known around the world.But in this particular match, every single ball was cheered by our supporters. Everyone believed we would pull it off, even after scoring just 111 runs. I’ve been part of many matches where Mahi Bhai, Virat Bhai, or Rohit Bhai came out to bat, but I had never been part of a game like this. It’s a very rare moment in cricket history.Everyone supporting us in the stadium believed that we would win that match. I still remember everyone shouting “PBKS! PBKS!” as I stood fielding at deep square leg after KKR lost their last wicket.