Pondicherry to welcome Shashank Singh after Chhattisgarh departure
Shashank Singh’s move to Pondicherry
Shashank Singh, the all-rounder for Punjab Kings, has confirmed his departure from Chhattisgarh to join Pondicherry for the 2026-27 domestic season. This move follows allegations from Singh that the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh (CSCS) did not provide adequate support during an injury-plagued period and subsequently sidelined him without explanation. Singh has secured a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from his former state association, paving the way for his transition.
Singh, who is 34 years old, cited serious shoulder and finger injuries sustained last season as a key factor in his decision. He stated that the CSCS offered no support during this phase. Following the season, his name was not included in the player list for the Chhattisgarh Cricket Premier League 2026, nor was he part of the squad that traveled to Bengaluru for a pre-season training camp. Singh indicated that his inquiries regarding these omissions went unanswered.
The all-rounder also addressed suggestions that his focus was solely on franchise cricket, specifically the Indian Premier League (IPL). He countered these claims by highlighting his recognition as India’s best white-ball all-rounder by the BCCI just last year. This recognition came in the form of the Lala Amarnath Award for the Best All-Rounder in Domestic Limited Overs Competitions for the 2023-24 season.
Domestic career and future focus
Shashank Singh has been a consistent performer in domestic white-ball cricket. In the 2024-25 season, he scored 450 runs and took 11 wickets in seven matches during the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He also contributed 188 runs in seven games in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy.
For the upcoming season, Singh plans to concentrate exclusively on white-ball cricket, taking a break from the red-ball format. His aim is to establish himself as a genuine all-rounder capable of bowling his full quota of four overs in T20 cricket, both for Pondicherry and for Punjab Kings in the IPL. He emphasized that his body remains fresh, which supports his focus on white-ball cricket.
Singh played a significant role in Punjab Kings’ journey to the IPL 2025 final, where he scored 350 runs at a strike rate of 153.51. This included an unbeaten innings of 61 runs off 30 balls in the final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Journey through state teams
Singh’s 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. He made his debut in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Mumbai in 2015. He represented Mumbai until 2018, playing three List A games for the team.
At the age of 27, he returned to Chhattisgarh. From 2019 onwards, Singh became a regular fixture in the Chhattisgarh side across various 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 for Chhattisgarh included 1,054 runs in 35 matches at an average of 40.53 and 37 wickets. In T20s, his batting average stands at 25.55.
A notable achievement in the 2023-24 season saw Singh become the first Indian player to score over 150 runs and take five wickets in a single List A game, a feat he accomplished against Manipur. He now looks forward to a fresh start with Pondicherry after his departure from Chhattisgarh for the 2026-27 season.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
