Pondicherry to welcome Shashank Singh after Chhattisgarh departure
Shashank Singh’s Move to Pondicherry
Shashank Singh, the vice-captain for Punjab Kings and a notable IPL batter, has announced his decision to transition from Chhattisgarh to Pondicherry for the upcoming 2026-27 season. This move follows what Singh described as a lack of support from the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh (CSCS) during a period marked by injuries.
P Damodaran, former president of the Cricket Association of Pondicherry, confirmed that Singh, along with Prasad Pawar, a wicketkeeper-batsman from Mumbai, will join Pondicherry as guest players for the domestic season. The association plans to finalize a third guest player in the coming weeks.
Singh, who is 34 years old, stated that he has secured a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the CSCS. He cited serious shoulder and finger injuries, including a fracture on his right finger, sustained last season as a primary reason for his departure. According to Singh, the CSCS did not provide adequate support during his recovery phase.
Allegations of Non-Support and Sidelining
Following the 2024-25 season, Singh’s name was notably absent from the list of players for the Chhattisgarh Cricket Premier League 2026. Furthermore, he was not included in the Chhattisgarh squad that traveled to Bengaluru (Alur) for a pre-season camp. Singh reported that his inquiries regarding these omissions received no response from the association.
Singh also addressed suggestions that his focus was solely on IPL cricket, denying these claims. He highlighted that in February 2025, he was recognized as India’s best all-rounder in the white-ball circuit by the BCCI. This recognition came with the prestigious Lala Amarnath Award for the Best All-Rounder in Domestic Limited Overs Competitions for the 2023-24 season.
During the 2024-25 season, Singh demonstrated strong performance in domestic white-ball competitions. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he scored 450 runs and took 11 wickets across seven matches. He also contributed 188 runs in seven games during the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy.
Focus on White-Ball Cricket and Past Achievements
Looking ahead, Singh intends to concentrate on becoming a dedicated white-ball all-rounder. He plans to take a break from red-ball cricket for the upcoming season, aiming to bowl his full quota of four overs in T20 matches for both Pondicherry and the Punjab Kings in the IPL.
Singh played a significant role in the Punjab Kings’ journey to the IPL 2025 final. He scored 350 runs at a strike rate of 153.51, which included an unbeaten 61 runs off 30 balls in the final match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
His cricketing journey began with a move from Bhilai to Mumbai at the age of 16, where he played for the DY Patil team in local tournaments. Singh made his debut in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Mumbai in 2015, representing them in three List A games until 2018. He then returned to Chhattisgarh at the age of 27.
From 2019 onwards, Singh was a regular fixture in the Chhattisgarh team across all formats. In 24 first-class games for the state, he accumulated 905 runs at an average of 29.9 and took 16 wickets at 47.87 with his medium-pace bowling. His performance in List A cricket shows 1,054 runs in 35 matches at an average of 40.53 and 37 wickets. In T20s, his batting average stands at 25.55.
In the 2023-24 season, Singh achieved a notable milestone by becoming the first Indian player to score over 150 runs and take five wickets in a single List A game, a feat accomplished against Manipur.
Recently, Singh was involved in a legal matter, facing an FIR alongside his father, Shailesh Singh, a retired Special Director General of Police, concerning alleged assault and verbal abuse of their cook. However, Singh has denied these allegations, stating that he has been cleared of all charges.
Singh’s decision marks a new chapter in his domestic career, with the all-rounder looking forward to a fresh start with Pondicherry from the 2026-27 season.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
