On a tension-filled Tuesday night, as the wickets at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium beheld a fierce battle, the Punjab Kings faced a stern challenge. Chasing a competitive target of 183 runs set by Sunrisers Hyderabad, their journey to victory seemed within reach, only to slip through their fingers in the final moments, concluding the nail-biting encounter with a mere two-run deficit. Despite an uphill battle, requiring a daunting 78 off the final five overs, it was Punjab’s duo, Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma, who previously led their team to a dramatic win against Gujarat Titans, that nearly carried them to triumph with an explosive 29 runs needed off the ultimate six deliveries.
The match was characterized not only by Punjab’s valiant effort but also by an impressive display from SRH’s all-rounder Nitish Reddy, whose tour de force included a 64-run spectacle off just 37 balls. This feat drove Sunrisers Hyderabad to the commendable total of 182 in their allotted overs. The ongoing IPL 2024 season has become synonymous with the rise of the less heralded, yet remarkably talented, lesser-known players who are seizing the limelight and turning heads with their outstanding performances.
Shashank Singh, having become one of the faces of this emerging talent pool, attributes this phenomenon to the sheer amount of hard work behind the scenes and the crucible of domestic cricket. His unwavering belief in self, he suggests, is the cornerstone behind the success of players like himself and Nitish Reddy, who have become the harbingers of their own fate in this lucrative tournament.
“The only thing is self-belief. Like the way we play domestic cricket. Like you see SRH’s Nitish (Reddy) here. He usually scores and takes wickets in white-ball and red-ball cricket (in domestic competitions). You can say these players are unknown but they are known players in the domestic circuit. They did well in the domestic circuit and their performances in IPL are a reward of that (hard work). You need to continue your domestic performance here. Cricket is a game of self-belief at this level,” Shashank expounded.
He reflects on his own journey, drawing parallels; his unbeaten 61 against the Titans was succeeded by a brisk 46* off 25 balls, showcasing his ability to finish strong. Yet, on this occasion, the glory was just a couple of runs out of Punjab’s clutches. “We lost the match by two runs but the most painful thing is to lose a match because we play to win. A defeat is a defeat whether it is by two runs or 20 runs. I must credit Ashutosh for turning the match, the way he batted in the last over. We had belief till the second-last ball that it is possible,” he lamented, indicating not just the will to win but the sting of defeat that motivates athletes of his calibre.
In pursuit of excellence, Shashank revealed the intense preparation that precedes such tournaments, including match simulations that help acclimate players to high-pressure scenarios. “We did a lot of match simulation in the camp before the IPL. We (Ashutosh and I) used to shuffle between 5 and 6 in the batting order. We had been given a lot of scenarios like 60 or 70 off five overs and we chased that target a lot of times. So we always had the belief,” Shashank divulged.
As the tale of Punjab’s near-miss spreads, the narrative underscores a lesson that transcends cricket – belief, bolstered by relentless dedication, is vital in surmounting the challenges on the path to success. It is this tenacious spirit that continues to fuel the dreams of players in the electrifying stages of IPL 2024, epitomized by the unyielding grit and flourishing talent of individuals like Shashank Singh and his contemporaries.
