Former Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has opined that Punjab Kings finisher Shashank Singh deserves an India call-up. Singh has performed consistently in the last two seasons for the Mohali-based franchise.
The right-hander scored 350 runs in 14 innings in IPL 2025 at an average of 50 and a strike rate of 153.50, including three fifties. Singh scored a blistering knock of 61 runs off just 30 balls against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the previous season’s final but his efforts went in vain.
Shashank was the highest run-getter for PBKS in IPL 2024 as he scored 354 runs in 14 matches at an average of 44.25 and a strike rate of 164.65.
Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube Channel, “There’s one more player I want to focus on in the batting department, that is Shashank Singh. We don’t really talk much about him, but he actually deserves an India call-up as well. He has delivered such strong performances. Punjab Kings’ recruitment has also been impressive.
“He was part of the retention, and the team has been built around Shashank Singh because they trust that he will be a very good finisher for them. Shashank Singh, Shreyas Iyer, along with Nehal Wadhera, form a very core part of their middle order and a very important engine room of Punjab Kings,” he added.
Ashwin said head coach Ricky Ponting will find a way to get Singh back in form for IPL 2026. Singh could only manage 101 runs in seven innings while playing for Chhattisgarh in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
“But I think, based on what I have seen in the past, and also with Ricky Ponting as the coach, I am sure he will find a way to bring Shashank Singh back into form. Because I know how Ricky works. He will go back, refer to footage, and if something has gone wrong, he will sit down with Shashank Singh and talk it through. He will give him more practice.
“If I’m not wrong, he would have already worked with him and spoken to him. I think he would have found a way to assess how the performances have been. He would have followed up little by little as well. So I just hope Shashank Singh does well. I really like him,” he added.
Punjab Kings will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against the Gujarat Titans at Mullanpur on 31st March.
