Kamal Ghorui
After falling just short in the 2025 final, Shashank Singh is convinced that Punjab Kings will go one step further this season and lift the Indian Premier League trophy. Punjab Kings had ended a decade-long wait to reach the final last year, only to lose by six runs to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a closely fought title clash. Despite that heartbreak, Shashank is confident the outcome will be different this time, with the final scheduled for May 31 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. “I know that on May 31st, we will be playing at the Chinnaswamy and lifting the cup. It’s not just a feeling, I know this. This will happen,” Shashank said. “It’s the self belief and team belief. Everyone is on the same page. There is confidence in everyone.” PBKS had an impressive campaign in 2025, finishing top of the league stage with nine wins from 14 matches before defeating Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 to secure a place in the final. Looking ahead, Shashank stressed the importance of staying grounded rather than dwelling on last season’s success. “We will take it match by match because ultimate aim is to get a trophy.” “If we keep thinking we reached the final last year, there will be a lot of pressure on us. So our immediate aim is to prepare for our first game against GT, then against CSK and KKR,” he said during the ‘JioStar Press Room’. Under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer and head coach Ricky Ponting, the franchise has retained 21 players from last season, maintaining a stable core. “To play the final and win is the ultimate goal. But we have to focus on every match, rectify our mistakes that will be easier. We are very motivated and excited that we are the same group. We are better prepared than last year.” Shashank also spoke about embracing his role in the lower middle order, saying it has played a crucial part in his development. “It’s important to love the role. Earlier I also used to think I am a top-order batter and I have been thrown down the order. But then I fell in love with the role.” “The most important thing to prosper in this role is to get the backing (of the team management and dressing room) because you need freedom to play high risk cricket.” Reflecting on his preparation, the 34-year-old revealed that personal milestones will take a backseat this season. “It is more a mental game than skill game during the IPL. The past year didn’t go well for me as I had a spate of injuries and I couldn’t play competitive cricket much.” “My biggest goal is to make an impact for the team. Individual goal will be secondary because I want the team to win and I want a photo with the cup.” “I don’t like batting much in the nets, and I prefer to bat in the games because my role requires to use the mind more than the skill set, stay calm under pressure.” Shashank also acknowledged the added scrutiny on emerging players such as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Priyansh Arya, both of whom impressed last season. “It won’t be difficult but teams will be better prepared and there will be pressure of performance this year. We all know what IPL is. There will be expectation from them.” Drawing from his own experience, Shashank emphasised the importance of backing up a strong debut season. “Like last year for me, I didn’t want to be a one-year wonder, a lot of time we see that happening. Those who do well in one season their second season become really important because every team is planning for us and there is fan, owner, franchise pressure, performance pressure to match the previous season,” he added.
