“I felt that cricket was not for me”- Shasank Singh opens not to increase in IPL 2023 Auction [Exclusive]

Cricket player born in Mumbai Shasank Singh Has had a roller coaster ride in the Indian Premier League. After Delhi Daredevils (2017), Rajasthan Royals (2019-21), Sunrisers Hyderabad (2022) and now with Punjab Kings (PBKS) represented.

In the 2023 auction, however, Shasank was not sold, a phase that he admitted that it was difficult to process. But he bounced back strongly and made the decision of PBK’s to rage him in 2024 for INR 20 Lakh. His heroic deeds, 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 finishes. In particular, PBK’s kept him for IPL 2025 on a huge INR 5.50 Crore.

In an exclusive conversation with Crictracker, Shasank thought about his IPL career and future goals. He also meant about PBK’s captain in a competition this season. The 33-year-old also admitted that the competition to achieve it in the national team motivates him instead of adding pressure.

Extracts

You usually beat in the lower medium order. If you come in late and there are only a few more overs, what is your mentality at that time?

I always try to stay calm, because there are so many thoughts running through your head when you walk out. Over the years I have realized that it is all about in the present moment. Sometimes you get caught up in the past or you start to think too far ahead of how you can win the game. But really, it’s about concentrating on the ball that comes to you and plays it in the right way. I do my best to stay composed and to trust myself that if I stay calm, I can do well for my team.

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

It always feels great to have scored most 50s and 30s in the last role in a worldwide event such as the IPL, especially if you have some of the best players in the world such as Nicholas Pooran and Heinrich Klaasen. It gives me the feeling that I am doing something good. I really believe it is possible because I am concentrating on staying on the fold and not considering the situation. My goal is always to achieve the maximum return with the least risk. For me, staying on the Wicket is the most important thing, so I can help my team move forward in the game

Looking at your IPL 2024 and 2025 statistics – 520 runs on a 65 average, top scorer in Death Overs, and not most times – what would you say about that version?

I always have the feeling that if I don’t, who will win it for the team? At that level it is very important to take responsibility. I have seen many players at the domestic and club level who do not shy away from that responsibility, but I have always been someone who likes to stand out. I believe it is possible because I will do my best there. If I don’t believe in myself, who will be different? For me, self -confidence is everything. If I believe in myself, I know that anything is possible. What figures I set up today is the result of that strong self -confidence – that confidence that I can do it for my team

Also, when you hit positions 4 or 5, your average was 70.29 with a success rate of 170.83. What is the secret behind this consistency and explosiveness?

An important thing that I have learned in life, especially from Ab de Villiers, is to accept things as they come. People talk about my average that is around 70 and my success rate is more than 170 out of 4 or 5, but there were certainly innings where I got out for scores with one digit. What I have always learned is that you have to go quickly. Just accept them, because at the end of the day you are only a person. I understood early that failure is part of the game and acceptance is the key. I still strongly believe that I am the best, but at the same time I have learned to accept that you sometimes fail. That mentality helps me bounce back the next day and to strive to be in a better zone.

You were not sold in the IPL 2023 auction. How did you deal with that experience and what did you learn from it?

I was really injured because I had high expectations of myself. That season turned out to be an average for me, and I know I could have performed much better. The mistake I made was to make too many expectations for the following year. I lived in a future that did not exist yet. That year taught me a lot, especially with the support and advice of my mother, dad and sister. At one point I even had the feeling that cricket might not be for me. But then I realized that what I really needed was trusting in myself to push harder. I always wanted to become the best white ball player in the country. People often say that Batting at number 6 or no. 7 leads to a fall, but I wanted to prove that they are wrong. Today I have the feeling that I am on the right track to achieve that goal.

In IPL 2025 you have PBK’s captain in a competition. When do you see yourself becoming a permanent leader for your state team? How do you prepare yourself for that responsibility?

I really want to lead the state team. I don’t know why, but I believe I have that cricket brain, cricket smartness. I also have that calmness in me, which is required for a captain. When you are talking about the competition in which Shreyas was injured, I was the captain. I led the competition. It was against Rajasthan Royals and that was a difficult match because it was a qualifying match. So I am convinced that I also played in Bombay in Dy Patil. So I played in many franchises. I played under Steve Smith. I didn’t play in matches, but I was in the team. Kane Williamson was there, Rohit Sharma was there, Shreyas was there. So I grabbed many things from these people. So now I think it’s the right time for me to lead my state. Because even now that I have to talk to other players, the way I explain them, my comfort level and I think I am now the time I have to give back to my state. What they did for me, now it’s the right time to give my state. I also have to win those championships for the state cream. So I also want to lead my state side. I mean, it is clearly under management, but white ball format, I really want to lead and I know that our state is so talented … only that we have to feed them. It is important to develop a culture. The way I played cricket in Punjab last year, I realized that it is very important to develop a culture. So I also want to bring that culture to the cricket of my state. And let’s win a few championships this year.

You recently received the Lala Amarnath Award for the best all -rounder in domestic cricket. Do you think this strengthens your chances of a call-up in India?

I can’t say that I expect something like that. I won the Lala Amarnath Award, I have performed, I have taken wickets, I took catches. It is clear that I have done everything. But India is again, India is the dream. But again, when I say that I expect, yes, I know I’m around somewhere. I’m close to that thing. But again, when I keep thinking about it, I will be under pressure. So it feels good to hear that I have won a prize that is difficult. You play cricket in 35 states. There are so many all -rounders in every state. They batter, they do bowling, they are doing so well. But again, to rise upstairs, that’s a big thing. Again, there is a lot of hard work, there is a lot of support from the people. There is support from the fans, there is support from the coaches, there is support from my family. What you say about close by, I feel that I am close by. But again, it is my job to play 100% honestly. And I am clearly certain 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 quickly.

The bank strength of India is very strong. Does this competition motivate you or do you turn pressure?

You save, you play the biggest sport in India. You go to a worldwide event, so there is busy on you, but you have chosen this sport. There is no matter of busy. There is a healthy competition in this team. Everyone is doing well, I don’t say that in the Indian cricket team that we play at this level. Nobody wants to beat someone. 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 I am doing very well; I’m the best. But I want to be my own best version. As I told you, my first season was very good, but I wanted to do it better than this I don’t want to compare, I want to be my own best version. Competition is a struggle that 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 play when there is a match, your graph goes up.

Yuzvendra Chahal chose four wickets in one of the matches in IPL 2025 and won a low scoring meeting about KKR. How was the dressing room environment after that competition?

Such a competition has never happened before in the 18-year history of the IPL. Even at a domestic or club level I have never experienced anything like that. The team scored about 100 points and I scored 18. It was one of those goose bumps. I actually have to go back and view the highlights while I speak to you. Yuzi Bowlode incredibly good at that game, and after that performance we were completely pumped up. Competitions like this do not happen once per season – they come once every 15 or 20 years. You wouldn’t believe it, but I played at locations such as Chinnaswamy, Wankhede and Chepauk, where the fan follows is absolutely crazy and known all over the world. But in this specific competition every ball was welcomed by our supporters. Everyone believed that we would get it, even after scoring only 111 points. I was part of many competitions where Mahi Bhai, Virat Bhai or Rohit Bhai came forward, but I had never been part of a game like this. It is a very rare moment in cricket history. Everyone who supports us in the stadium believed that we would win that competition. I remember that everyone shouted “PBKS! PBKS!” While I stood on the deep square leg after KKR lost their last wicket.

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