Shashank Singh is optimistic that Punjab Kings would go all the way and win the coveted trophy on May 31 at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru this season, despite their defeat in the 2025 IPL final.
After a ten-year wait, Punjab Kings had staged an incredible run to make it to the final, but they were painfully defeated by Royal Challengers Bengaluru by six runs in the championship match.
“I know that on May 31st, we will be playing at the Chinnaswamy and lifting the cup. It’s not just a feeling, I know this. This will happen,” PTI quoted Shashank as saying on Friday.
“It’s the self-belief and team belief. Everyone is on the same page. There is confidence in everyone.”
Last season, PBKS had an incredible season, winning nine of their 14 league games and qualifying for the final by defeating the Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2.
When asked how they would recreate the performance from the previous year, Shashank responded, “We will take it match by match because ultimate aim is to get a trophy. If we keep thinking we reached the final last year, there will be a lot of pressure on us. So our immediate aim is to prepare for our first game against GT, then against CSK and KKR,” Shashank said on ‘JioStar Press Room’.
The core group of players, managed by Shreyas Lyer and coached by Ricky Ponting, has retained 21 players from its 2025 squad.
“To play the final and win is the ultimate goal. But we have to focus on every match, rectify our mistakes that will be easier. We are very motivated and excited that we are the same group. We are better prepared than last year.”
The 34-year-old claimed that accepting the responsibility has been essential to his development after adjusting to a lower middle-order role at PBKS.
“It’s important to love the role. Earlier I also used to think I am a top-order batter and I have been thrown down the order. But then I fell in love with the role. The most important thing to prosper in this role is to get the backing (of the team management and dressing room) because you need freedom to play high risk cricket.”
Speaking about his preparation, he stated that this season, personal objectives will take a backseat.
“It is more a mental game than skill game during the IPL. The past year didn’t go well for me as I had a spate of injuries and I couldn’t play competitive cricket much.
“My biggest goal is to make an impact for the team. Individual goal wills be secondary because I want the team to win and I want a photo with the cup.
“I don’t like batting much in the nets, and I prefer to bat in the games because my role requires to use the mind more than the skill set, stay calm under pressure.”
Young players like Priyanshi Arya of the Punjab Kings and Viabhav Sooryavanshi of the Rajasthan Royals had a breakout season the previous year, but Shashank believes they would have to deal with higher expectations this year.
“It won’t be difficult but teams will be better prepared and there will be pressure of performance this year. We all know what IPL is. There will be expectation from them.”
In 2024, Shashank had a breakout season in which he amassed 354 runs in 14 games.
“Like last year for me, I didn’t want to be a one-year wonder, a lot of time we see that happening. Those who do well in one season their second season become really important because every team is planning for us and there is fan, owner, franchise pressure, performance pressure to match the previous season,” he added.
