March 26, 2025: Shashank Singh shared the selfless and encouraging instructions he received from Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer during the final over of their IPL 2025 opener against Gujarat Titans (GT). The message from Iyer, who was on 97 not out at the other end, was simple: “Hit every ball for a four and a six,” with no pressure on Shashank to worry about giving him the strike.
At the time, Shashank was new to the crease, having faced just 10 balls, while Iyer was eyeing his maiden IPL hundred. Despite being so close to reaching the milestone, Iyer showed remarkable selflessness and put the team’s interests first, encouraging Shashank to take charge of the last over.
Following Iyer’s advice, Shashank produced an outstanding finish, hitting five boundaries in the final over and adding 23 runs to the total. The duo’s efforts helped PBKS post an imposing 243/5, a total that proved to be 11 runs too many for Gujarat Titans in the high-scoring encounter.
“I didn’t see the scoreboard, to be very honest, but after the first ball I hit, I saw the scoreboard, and Shreyas was on 97. I was going to ask him if I should take a single or something, but he only came and told me not to worry about his hundred,” Shashank revealed after the match. “It takes a lot of heart and courage to say that because, obviously, hundreds don’t come easily in T20, especially in IPL. That gave me even more confidence.”
Iyer’s selflessness and leadership were crucial in PBKS’s dominant finish, as they raised 77 runs off the last four overs. Iyer, batting at number three for the first time since IPL 2022, faced just four deliveries in the final three overs of the innings.
“It’s a team game, we all know, but then in those situations, it’s difficult to be that selfless, but Shreyas was one. I know him for the past 15 years, he is the same. He told me just to be calm, to play cricketing shots that I usually play, to maintain my balance and by God’s grace, I think we had a good finish,” Shashank added, reflecting on his captain’s guidance and their successful partnership.