"I’m close now and knocking on the door" - Punjab Kings' star hopeful about maiden India call-up

The 33-year-old Shashank Singh has been doing well for Punjab Kings (PBKS) for the last two seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL), and he is hopeful about a maiden India call-up. This year, Shashank scored 350 runs from 17 matches at an average of 50 and a strike rate of 153.51. He played an integral role in helping Punjab reach the IPL final for the first time since 2014.

Being a finisher in T20 cricket isn't easy, as the pressure is high and often there isn't too much time to get accustomed to what the surface has to offer. However, Shashank has shown tremendous consistency while playing the finisher's role at PBKS. He has taken PBKS over the line from some difficult situations in the last two years.

When asked about the intense competition in Indian cricket and his dreams of wearing the national jersey, Shashank said that he is always trying to improve his game without worrying about what others are doing. He believes that he is very close to receiving a call-up.

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"I focus on competing with myself. When I measure myself against my own standards, there’s no limit to what I can achieve. I let my performances, abilities, and match-winning impacts speak for why I should be in the Indian team, rather than comparing myself to others," Shashank said while speaking to Sports Today.

"Playing for India has been my dream since I started professional cricket—back in my under-16 and under-19 days, when my father gave me my first bag to play. Yes, I’m close now and knocking on the door, but when the opportunity comes, I don’t know. I’m not afraid of competition. I’ve proven myself in cricket, and I believe the right moment will come when skill and luck align, and the selectors see me as the right fit. One thing I can assure is that I will be there," the right-handed batter added.