Shashank Singh has emerged as PBKS's batting mainstay ©BCCI
The internet can be a cruel space. Shashank Singh learnt it the hard way last December when, nearly a year after going off social media, he became the butt of all jokes on being "accidentally" bought, openly rejected and finally accepted at the 2024 IPL auctions. The confusion which arose momentarily at the Punjab Kings auction table was down to the fact that there was another player by the same name in the mix. The franchise officially clarified a day later that their rejection at the auction table notwithstanding, the Chattisgarh finisher was indeed the Shashank Singh they had on their radar. But that was all the whiff the trolls needed and, by then, he had already been labeled a 'mistake purchase'.
There was never any confusion in Shashank's mind though. Chattisgarh coach Hitesh Goswami, who is also a talent scout for Punjab Kings, had spoken highly of his ward to the franchise that was looking to strengthen its Indian middle-order core. At the same time he had advised Shashank, who was on the lookout for an IPL team he could call home. He had previously been attached to Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals between 2017-20, and debuted for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2022 before being deemed surplus to their requirements on the day of the retention deadline.
Disheartened after the auction that followed, partly because of the injury that robbed him of a chance to push his case, Shashank went off the social grid with the focus solely on earning his spot back in the IPL. He found the backing at PBKS to be given a chance in their tournament opener itself, but perished first ball attempting a needless pull when only a
