'Dream has always been to be the man of the final' - Shashank Singh reflects on heartbreaking IPL 2025 final loss against RCB [Exclusive]

Punjab Kings’ dream run in IPL 2025 ended in heartbreak as they were defeated by Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final at Ahmedabad. While RCB lifted their maiden title with a six-run win, batter Shashank Singh’s fighting knock kept Punjab’s hopes alive until the very end.

In an exclusive conversation with CricTracker, Shashank reflected on the missed opportunity. Chasing 191, Punjab required 29 off the final six deliveries with Shashank on strike. The 33-year-old eventually smashed 22 runs as the team finished short at 184/7. Notably, Shashank remained unbeaten on 61.

Meanwhile, Shashank has been one of Punjab’s biggest positives over the last two seasons. After breaking through in IPL 2024, he was retained for INR 5.5 crore for the 2025 edition. So far, in two seasons for PBKS, he has scored 704 runs in 31 games.

Excerpts

Punjab Kings retained you in 2025 — how much pressure did you feel to prove that you are not just a one-season wonder?

To be honest, there was definitely pressure. When you play in a platform like the IPL, which has been running for 18 years, many players perform well for one season but fade away after that. The second season is always the toughest, because data analysts, coaches, and everyone else start watching you closely, analyzing both your strengths and weaknesses. For me, there was only one thought in my mind: I didn’t want to be labeled a one-season wonder. That pressure was always there. I’m not someone who talks much about myself, but I knew I had to prove whether all the hard work I was putting in was paying off or not. In that sense, I appreciate my own effort. 

After IPL 2024 ended, I stayed in touch with video analysts and a few coaches and focused on working hard to address my weaknesses ahead of the IPL 2025 season. Cricket is a sport where people constantly judge you. I didn’t want to get stuck in any kind of mediocrity. I’m extremely glad I was able to prove myself last season.

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In the IPL 2025 Final, you scored 61 runs off 30 balls when the stakes were at their highest. What was your game plan at that moment, and how did you stay so composed?

Since childhood, I’ve always found happiness in stepping up and becoming the hero in big situations. My dream has always been to be the man of the final - to win the match for my team. In Qualifier 1 and Qualifier 2, unfortunately, I couldn’t perform well and got out early. I felt I craved these high-pressure matches, but somehow I wasn’t doing justice to the opportunity. It left me disappointed, especially because I really wanted to take my team to the next level in such important games.

When the final arrived, I was pumped up and determined to give that extra 10% - to do it for my team. The moment I walked out to bat, I felt it was an ideal situation to become the man of the moment. Of course, I missed it, but I know these chances are very rare in a player’s career. I’ve always carried that strong self-belief that I can rise to such occasions.