Punjab Kings (PBKS) skipper Shikhar Dhawan showered praise on rising stars Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma after their heroics propelled PBKS to a dramatic last-ball victory against the Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad. This win not only secured valuable points for PBKS but also shook up the IPL 2024 points table.
Shashank Singh’s Match-Winning Knock Earns Dhawan’s Praise
Chasing a mammoth target of 201 runs, PBKS’s chase appeared precarious at various junctures. However, a scintillating knock from the relatively unknown Shashank Singh (61* off 29 balls) turned the tide in PBKS’s favour. Singh’s exceptional temperament under pressure, anchoring the chase and playing crucial strokes, drew praise from the skipper.
“The way Shashank came in and hit those sixes, it was brilliant, the way he hit the ball, it looked effortless,” Dhawan said at the post-match presentation ceremony. He further elaborated, “He started from No. 7 and is now showing his positive mindset. He is playing in the IPL after a long time and he played so well.”
Ashutosh Sharma’s Valuable Contribution Highlighted
Dhawan also commended Ashutosh Sharma, who entered the fray as an impact player and played a vital role. Sharma’s quickfire 31 runs off just 17 balls provided crucial support to Shashank Singh and proved to be the perfect foil for the match-winner.
“I will also mention about Ashutosh, he came in and played a good knock under pressure,” Dhawan remarked, highlighting Sharma’s contribution.
Dhawan Reflects on Missed Opportunity and Team Effort
While acknowledging the team’s victory, Dhawan expressed his disappointment at being dismissed cheaply. “The plan was to give a good start but I got out unfortunately,” he admitted.
However, he was quick to shift focus to the team’s overall performance. “We were around 60 runs at the end of the powerplay, we kept building partnerships and Shashank came in and played really well,” Dhawan explained, emphasizing the importance of team effort in securing the win.
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 captain Shikhar Dhawan lauds youngsters Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma for their crucial roles in the team's thrilling last-ball win over Gujarat Titans (GT). %%page%%){kind=link}