Aakash Chopra personally selected Punjab Kings (PBKS) middleorder batsman Shashank Singh as a standout player for their IPL 2024 matchup against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Guwahati on Wednesday May 15. He noted that the Chhattisgarh player, much like Suryakumar Yadav, is a late bloomer.
Securing merely eight points from 12 games paints a bleak picture of PBKS positioning them at the bottom of the points table. Despite their playoff aspirations dwindling Punjab is determined to emerge victorious in their final two league clashes to steer clear of the ignominy associated with the wooden spoon.
In a captivating video shared on his YouTube channel Chopra enthusiastically singled out Shashank as the player to watch from Punjab Kings in the upcoming Wednesday match. He fervently expressed his belief that Shashank is on the verge of earning a place in Indias T20I squad.
“Which three players can we focus on? The first is Shashank Singh because he is a very good player and the focus is always on him. The way he is batting, there will be a time when you will consider him for the Indian team.”
“He is not a 22 or 25-year-old. He is a fairly senior guy in terms of age. He has that much domestic experience and now he is just blooming. He reminds me a little of Suryakumar Yadav. His career also ascended similarly. So Shashank Singh is the first player.”
Aakash Chopra
Shashank is the Punjab Kings’ leading run-scorer in the IPL 2024. This season, the right-handed batter has hit 352 runs with a strikeout rate of 168.42 in 12 innings.
“The bowlers have started bowling short balls in the last few games and he has been found wanting a little” – Aakash Chopra on Punjab Kings’ Ashutosh Sharma
Aakash Chopra selected Ashutosh Sharma as the second Punjab Kings hitter to focus on against the Rajasthan Royals.
“The second – I am thinking about Ashutosh Sharma because Ashutosh has also gone off the boil. He was batting incredibly well in some matches where he was even lap-sweeping (Jasprit) Bumrah but the bowlers have started bowling short balls in the last few games and he has been found wanting a little.”
Aakash Chopra
The acclaimed expert believes Arshdeep Singh and Kagiso Rabada would be vital bowlers for PBKS in Guwahati.
“Spin will not have a big role on this pitch. So I am not looking towards Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar. But then, you have got Arshdeep Singh and Kagiso Rabada. I am not going towards Harshal Patel because there will be dew and the slower ones might not work that much. However, if Rabada and Arshdeep Singh bowl well, they can stop the opposing team.”
Aakash Chopra
With 16 wickets in 12 games Arshdeep is now the secondhighest wickettaker for PBKS in IPL 2024 closely behind Harshal Patel count of 20 wickets. Rabada although managing 11 wickets in as many games was excluded from the franchises playing XI in their latest encounter with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).