‘My respect for her increased that day’ - Shashank Singh recalls Preity Zinta's support during IPL 2025 suspension [Exclusive]

Punjab Kings (PBKS) vice-captain Shashank Singh opened up about his interactions with franchise co-owner Preity Zinta and how she stood by the team during challenging moments. He recalled how she personally looked after all the players during the Dharamsala clash against Delhi Capitals (DC), which was halted midway through due to cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan.

Shashank also spoke about his memorable exchange with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) co-owner Shah Rukh Khan, describing the unique bond he shared with both owners over the course of the tournament. He admitted feeling awestruck while conversing with the Bollywood superstar and fondly recalled how Shah Rukh warmly addressed him during their interaction.

Excerpts from the interview

Any unheard story with PBKS co-owner Preity Zinta that fans would love?

Preity ma'am is very chill. I didn't think she was that chill. Because look, we are all 90s kids. We have seen her movies, and she is a celebrity for us. So, when I meet her, I am a player for her. I am a vice-captain and captained in a game. I feel good when she gives me that responsibility and respect. She has always been a star for me. So, when I talk to her, I get a little awestruck. 

When we met for the first time at the auction, she predicted and said, 'Shashank, you will be the star of the year. You will be the star of our team'. And I think I proved her right. And we have a lot of other stories. Talking to her about Bollywood... [which] is such a big industry in our country...

Her kids are very cute. We were sitting for breakfast and they asked her my name. Ma'am said, 'Shashank, they are asking your name'. I said, 'Call me Rockstar'. I still remember, whenever I used to meet them at the pool, gym, or at the match, they used to call me as 'Rockstar'. I still remember, after IPL. ma'am asked me, 'my kids are asking, where is Rockstar?' I was so happy that her kids know me as Rockstar. 

My respect for her [increased] after the Dharamsala match. It was a very tense match because of the India-Pakistan war, we had to come back. It was tense, even though we were at a distance from the border, we were panicking. Everything was new to us. Priety ma'am came to our hotel. She arranged the bus, cabs, train, and food for us. We reached Delhi safely. 

Just think about the status of a celebrity like her. From ground level work, to managing everything, it was so difficult for her. But she made sure that everyone of us - not only the cricketers, our family, the support staff, media, logistics team - everyone reached home safely. Until I reached Bhopal, she was worried. That day, my respect for her increased. She is a nice lady, and she jokes a lot. But that was something that everyone couldn’t do.

What was the dressing room environment after that match got suspended?

It was panic. I won't lie, it was panic. We didn't know what was happening. When we used to go to the match, we used to leave our phones. There was a rule that phones are not allowed. We didn't know why the lights were switched off. We thought it was a technical error. Before the match, we were not sure if the match was on or not. But the credit goes to the IPL officials that they made us play the match. It was a big thing to play the match in such a difficult situation. It was a big thing to keep the safety of the fans. 

But, again, when we came inside, it was a tense moment. We didn't understand what was happening. It had never happened. So, we were a little tense. But when both the teams reached their hotels, our security officers told us that there was no need to panic. Whatever was happening, it was happening very far [away].

It was difficult for players from Delhi and Punjab to go to Delhi safely because you have to leave the next morning. There is a lot of logistics [issues[. It is difficult to carry all the luggage and take it there. So, it was a difficult job. But, it was a great job done by the [IPL].

Whenever there is a match between PBKS & KKR, there is a Veer-Zaara trend. Have you had any conversation with Preity Zinta regarding his tuning with Shah Rukh Khan?

I always ask Preity ma'am, how is Shah Rukh sir. We talk about a lot of things. There was a time when Punjab and Kolkata went to final and KKR won the title, but, there is no rivalry between the owners. There is a healthy competition. You want to win every match. If Shah Rukh sir comes to watch the match, I want to meet him. He is a global celebrity. I think my performance is decent against KKR, I like playing against them.

I had a half-hour interaction with Shah Rukh sir last year. We had a very good chase of 262 runs, I had played a good knock. I wanted a photo with Shah Rukh sir... by the grace of God, when I went in the evening, sir was talking to his players. When I reached, Shreyas informed him. Shah Rukh sir said 'Shashank, you played well'. I was happy that Shah Rukh sir knows my name.

I felt good that Shah Rukh Khan, [whom I have been] watching since childhood, is asking how i am. The way he talked to me, he also had a little knowledge about me, because I played well in that match... he even told me that if you ever come to Bombay, there is a 'small house' called 'Mannat', come there. I told him that sir, it is not a small house!. He called me in the evening, that brother, if you ever come, tell me. Maybe sir will not remember this thing, but as much as I have heard, his memory is very sharp. But it was a big thing for me - to have an interaction with him for half an hour, about cricket, about life - I enjoyed it a lot.