“There were hopes they could finish game”: Shikhar Dhawan

Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma, Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) shining stars of the IPL 2024 season, nearly orchestrated another thrilling chase, but Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) edged them out with a heart-stopping 2-run win at Mullanpur. Despite the narrow loss, PBKS captain Shikhar Dhawan was full of admiration for Shashank and Ashutosh’s valiant batting efforts, expressing confidence in their ability to close games for Punjab.

Facing a daunting task of 51 runs needed in the final three overs, the dynamic duo amassed 66 runs off just 27 balls, propelling their team tantalizingly close to victory. Their heroics, mirroring their performance in the previous match, once again highlighted their resilience, with Shashank lashing three fours off Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ashutosh hammering consecutive boundaries against SRH skipper Cummins.

Dhawan praised the pair’s exceptional play, stating, “Shashank and Ashutosh delivered outstanding innings. We were hopeful they could steer us to victory. Though we fell short, this effort boosts our confidence for upcoming matches, though we know improvements are necessary.”

Reflecting on the match’s outcome, Dhawan pointed out the early loss of wickets as a critical setback, “Our early batting faltered, losing three wickets in the initial overs, which ultimately cost us. On a pitch that didn’t offer much bounce, we’ll need to adapt our strategies. Additionally, a missed catch in the final moments could have restricted SRH further, but ultimately, our batting didn’t measure up. Nevertheless, it’s encouraging to see our young talents contribute so significantly,” Dhawan concluded during the post-match presentation.