‘Don’t Worry About My Hundred’: Shreyas Iyer’s Message To Shashank Singh

BY ADARSH MISHRA

Ahmedabad: Shashank Singh, the middle-order batter for Punjab Kings, shared that his captain, Shreyas Iyer, gave him some solid advice right from the first ball he faced. Iyer told him to forget about the milestone he was chasing and just concentrate on his own game. Iyer carried his fantastic form from the Champions Trophy into the new season, making a statement by smashing his very first ball for a stunning boundary over mid-off. He finished with an incredible strike rate of 230.95, racking up nine sixes and five boundaries to end with an unbeaten 97. While Iyer was on the verge of his first IPL century, Shashank took the spotlight in the final over, hitting five boundaries and not rotating the strike, which helped Punjab post a massive total of 243/5 in 20 overs. “It was a great cameo for sure. But honestly, seeing Shreyas motivated me even more. From the very first ball, he told me not to worry about his hundred! I just focused on watching the ball and reacting. I aim to hit boundaries. When you’re chasing a big number, it’s easy to miss good hits. I stick to the shots I know I can play and focus on my strengths,” Shashank said during the mid-game interview. Debutant Priyansh Arya kicked off the fireworks with a quick-fire 47 runs off just 23 balls before Iyer joined in. Even though they lost a few quick wickets in the middle overs, Marcus Stoinis and Iyer managed to put together a solid 57-run partnership, followed by Shashank and Iyer, who combined for a blistering 71 runs off just 28 balls.