Data Shorts: Versatility the key to Shashank’s evolution as a premium finisher

**Data Shorts: Versatility the key to Shashank's evolution as a premium finisher

Shashank Singh's career took an interesting turn in the IPL 2024 auction, where Punjab Kings bid for him and then tried to convince the auctioneer that they didn't want him due to mistaken identity. However, he went on to become one of the two players retained by the franchise and one of the premium finishers in demand in the league.

In a chase against Gujarat Titans, Shashank showed he belonged to the big stage, hitting an unbeaten 61 off 29 balls, chasing 200 against an attack comprising Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad. Later in the season, he scored an unbeaten 68 off 28 balls in a record run chase against eventual champions KKR.

Shashank's versatility has propelled him as one of the best finishers of the league. In Punjab's season opener in Ahmedabad, he hit 44* off 16 to take the team above par on a benign wicket. Two weeks later, against CSK, he guided his team from a precarious 83/5 in the eighth over to a final score of 219 in an 18-run win.

Highest SR in death overs (16-20) in IPL since 2024

Shashank combines the best of both worlds in his ability to clear the ropes at will and the skillset to access 360-degrees. His hitting zones are:

• Cow corner: 24.5%
• Other zones: 9.1% to 13.5%

Shashank extends this versatility to playing both pace and spin, making it extremely difficult for an opposition captain to tie him down with a match-up. In the death overs phase, he strikes at 195 against pace at a healthy average of 85, while against spin it rises to 203.

The uncapped batting brigade has been the backbone of Punjab's success this season and Shashank, like Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, and Nehal Wadhera, has played his part to perfection.