Shashank Singh on Sooryavanshi, Arya: "Second season will test them mentally"

Punjab Kings batter Shashank Singh believes young stars Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Priyansh Arya will face added pressure to replicate their standout performances from the last IPL season.

Speaking ahead of the IPL 2026 opener, Shashank noted that teams will be better prepared and that expectations will be high for the duo.

"Teams will definitely be well prepared, and there will be pressure to perform this year," Shashank said. "Expectations will be high, which is usual in India. Sooryavanshi is a star in the making, but there are certain technical areas we will try to exploit to get him out."

Sooryavanshi, who recently turned 15, had a remarkable debut season, scoring 252 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 206.55 and becoming the youngest-ever T20 centurion. He has since continued his form with a 36-ball century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and a 175 in the U19 World Cup final.

Shashank emphasized that the upcoming season will present more mental challenges for both Sooryavanshi and Arya.

"The same goes for Priyansh and for other teams. Hence, the second season is even more important. The mental side is about handling expectations as expectations will be more from them now. We have seen it many times: someone has a great season, and then the next year, they don't get the same opportunities. I can't say much about Sooryavanshi because I don't know him personally very well, but from what I've seen, he is very calm. With Priyansh, he knows exactly what he wants from his cricketing life. I think he will do really well this year as well."

Shashank and Arya are key players for Punjab Kings. The 24-year-old Arya scored 475 runs at a strike rate of 179.24 last season, while Shashank, 34, served as the team's finisher with a strike rate of 153.50. Punjab Kings' Indian contingent scored the most runs among all teams in IPL 2025.

The team is also nurturing other young talents like Nehal Wadhera, Suryansh Shedge, and Harnoor Brar. Shashank praised their fearless approach.

"The best thing about the youngsters is that they are completely fearless. Players from Punjab, like Nehal Wadhera, Suryansh Shedge, and Harnoor Singh, all of them don't think too much. I've realised that we tend to overthink at times, even I do, but these guys don't. The less they think, the better they perform. When they're batting, even if they play four dots or get beaten, they don't dwell on it. They just focus on the next ball. In the IPL, it's more about confidence, and that's their biggest strength."

Punjab Kings reached the final in the 2025 IPL, their first playoffs appearance in over a decade, with credit given to captain Shreyas Iyer and coach Ricky Ponting. Shashank highlighted their year-round involvement and positive environment.

"The way they back us during practice sessions and keep a tab on us throughout the year is very important. The brand of cricket we play and why we are so fearless is because of the environment. They have given us complete freedom. Even after a game where we lost badly, the talk was always about taking positives into the next game. Even now, in the current camp, the conversations are only positive."

Shashank also explained how Ponting's management style and rapport with Iyer benefit the team.

"The way Ricky Ponting handles everyone, from players to the support staff, creates a strong team environment, which is crucial in a tournament like the IPL. He makes sure everyone feels valued. From the very first meeting, he made it clear that no one would be judged on performance alone; everyone is equal. His attitude does not change from person to person. His cricketing knowledge is very sharp. He keeps things simple, even in meetings, which really helps when you are not doing well and tend to overthink. The understanding and respect he shares with Shreyas is excellent, and since they think alike, it makes working under him really enjoyable. It is very important for the captain and the coach to be on the same page."