Shashank Singh recalls nerve-wracking IPL 2025 final over, reveals regret that still 'haunts' him
Shashank Singh.
New Delhi: The Punjab Kings narrowly lost the Indian Premier League final to Royal Challengers Bangalore by six runs. Despite Shashank Singh's impressive 61 runs off 30 balls, which nearly secured victory, the Kings fell short of RCB's 190-run target. Singh remains disappointed about missing a full toss bowled by Josh Hazlewood in the final over.
With Punjab needing 29 runs to win in the final over, and Shashank at the crease, Hazlewood bowled a full toss instead of the expected yorker, leaving the batsman unprepared. The first two balls yielded no runs.
Despite scoring 22 runs off the next four balls, Shashank's effort proved insufficient.
'I had done my calculation of the last two overs, Bhuvi likes to bowl yorkers so I had planned to get at least 16-17 runs from him. My calculation was that in the last over our target should be 24 runs in 6 balls. I got only 13 from Bhuvi's over though, so the final over runs needed was 30,' Singh said in a chat with the Indian Express.
'Mentally, my mind was ready to get a first ball yorker from Hazelwood. So I had positioned myself but I never anticipated a full toss one, that too on my thigh pad. Now I feel, if I would have connected it, even if I got it on the handle of the bat, I would have got maximum, because the fine-leg was near. I was hoping for a wide from him but it never came. When I saw the scoreboard stating the last ball needed 12 runs, I knew it's all over,' he added.
Overcome with emotion, Shashank wept in the dressing room despite receiving praise for his performance. The missed full toss in the final over's first ball continues to trouble him.
'I'm a strong person but I couldn't control myself when I hit that six on the fifth ball and I saw 12 runs needed off the last ball. I realised it's all over. When I came to the dressing room, everyone came and said, why am I crying? I told them, mujhe apne aap aansoon aa raha hai,' he shared.
'People appreciated my batting wherever I have gone but all are reminding me of that one full toss miss. Mujhe bahut bura laga. The ball was on my hip, square leg was up, I just had to get that bat in which I couldn't. From hotel to airport to ground to home, everyone had that one point bhaiyya woh ball mar dete bas,' he says.
The batter is determined to reach and win the IPL 2026 final in Bengaluru.
'Next year we are playing the final in Bangalore for sure and we will lift the Trophy too,' he said.
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