Punjab Kings‘ batter, Shashank Singh, praised his captain, Shreyas Iyer, for putting the team’s success ahead of his own IPL century. During the final over of Punjab Kings’ innings, Iyer was unbeaten at 97, while Shashank was on strike. Instead of taking a single to let Iyer reach his century, Shashank smashed 23 runs in the last over, following Iyer’s instructions.
Shreyas Iyer’s Selfless Decision
After Punjab Kings secured an 11-run victory over Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Shashank shared what Iyer told him before the final over. “It takes a lot of courage to say this because scoring a century in T20, especially in the IPL, is rare,” Shashank said.
He further revealed that he wanted to take a single to help Iyer complete his century, but the captain told him otherwise. “He just came to me and said, ‘Shashank, don’t worry about my 100.’ I asked if I should take a single, but he encouraged me to go for big shots,” Shashank recalled.
A Decisive Finish for Punjab Kings
Shashank’s explosive hitting in the final over, which included a wide ball, pushed Punjab Kings’ total to 243/5, making it a match-winning total. His unbeaten 44 off 18 balls (six fours and two sixes) played a crucial role in the team’s success.
“Shreyas Iyer’s words gave me even more confidence. It’s a team game, but such selflessness is rare. He told me to stay calm and play my natural game. Thankfully, we finished well,” Shashank added.
A Strong Partnership
Shreyas Iyer and Shashank Singh built a solid 81-run partnership in just five overs. Iyer, who played a stunning 42-ball 97, hitting nine sixes and five fours, was named Player of the Match.
Shashank, who has known Iyer for over a decade, praised him for staying consistent both as a player and as a leader. “He has always been like this. He advised me to maintain balance and play my cricketing shots. By God’s grace, we had a great finish,” Shashank concluded.
With this win, Punjab Kings continued their strong run in IPL 2025, and Shreyas Iyer proved once again why he is a true team player.
