"I Deserved It, Iyer Should’ve Slapped Me": Shashank Singh Opens Up on IPL 2025 Eliminator Blunder

Punjab Kings batter Shashank Singh admitted that he had made a big mistake during the IPL 2025 Eliminator match, and said he fully deserved to be scolded by captain Shreyas Iyer. After PBKS played Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians, cameras caught Iyer angrily shouting at Shashank and refusing to shake his hand. Even though Punjab Kings won the match by 5 wickets, the incident raised eyebrows. Now, Shashank has come forward to explain what happened and why his captain was so upset with him.

Shashank: "I Deserved It, Iyer Should Have Slapped Me"

In an interview with The Indian Express, Shashank said that it would’ve been fair if Shreyas had slapped him, joking that he was running like he was on a beach. He shared that even his father didn’t speak to him until the IPL 2025 final. Shashank added that Shreyas told him he hadn’t expected that kind of mistake from him, but later made things better by taking him out for dinner.

“I deserve it, Iyer should have slapped me, my father didn’t speak to me till the finals. I was casual, I was walking on the beach not even in the garden. It was a crucial time, Shreyas was clear that I didn’t expect this from you but later he took me out for dinner,” Shashank said.

Shreyas Is the Most Approachable and Supportive Captain: Singh

Singh had a lot of good things to say about Shreyas. He said there’s no better captain in world cricket right now. According to him, Shreyas gives his teammates so much freedom that no one ever feels he has any kind of ego or attitude. Singh called him a "chill bandaa" and said Shreyas is the only captain he knows who tells his team that everyone’s ideas are welcome and he’s always ready to listen.

“Whatever I have spoken to others and seen, there is no better captain than him in current times in world cricket. He gives us freedom, he treats everyone equally. No one will say, Shreyas has an attitude. The youngsters in the dressing room find him to be a chill bandaa. Shreyas is the only captain, who has told us that if anyone has any suggestion during the game, he can come and convey it to him. If he feels it’s the right advice, he will take it. It’s rare,” he said.

Shreyas played a brilliant captain's innings, staying not out with 87 runs from just 41 balls. He wrapped up the chase in style by hitting a six off Ashwani Kumar in the 19th over. In that over, he smashed three sixes.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) came up just short in the final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), losing by six runs. Shashank fought hard during the chase and stayed not out with a solid 61 from just 30 balls. Unfortunately, Shreyas couldn't make an impact and was out early, scoring only 1 run from 2 balls.

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