"My time to prove them right" - Shashank Singh on getting retained by PBKS

Punjab Kings don’t have a great history when it comes to retaining players, but when they announced Shashank Singh as one of their two uncapped retentions on October 31 (Thursday), it didn’t surprise anyone. The Kings have retained him for INR 5.5 crore and Prabhsimran Singh for INR 4 crore, leaving themselves with a purse of well over INR 100 crore for the auction. 

The reason why Shashank’s retention didn’t come as a surprise to anyone is because of his performance in the last season. Largely playing the role of a finisher, the right-handed dasher hit 354 runs in 14 innings at an average of 44.25 and a strike rate of 164.7.

"I am extremely grateful to the franchise as they have given me an opportunity again and shown their faith in me. Having been in the circuit for the last five years, this opportunity they have given me is something I'll be forever grateful for. Now, it's my time to prove them right,” said the 32-year-old.

"As a professional, you have to give your 100%, and that's why you are there. The way Punjab Kings and the fans have shown trust in me, it's my responsibility to double up my performances and ensure we go for the championship.”

Shashank is also excited to work with Ricky Ponting, who was appointed Punjab’s new head coach. "Working with Ricky Ponting Sir will be the best thing for me this year. He is a legend of this game, and I am eager to learn new things under his guidance," said Shashank, who grew up admiring Ponting's trademark pull shots.

If you’ve not downloaded the Cricket.com app yet, you’re missing out on our content — big time. Download the App here.