Shashank Singh did not know that Shreyas Iyer was on 97 runs, Punjab Kings captain said- 'Don't worry about my century, just hit'

The fifth match of IPL 2025 was played between Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans on Tuesday at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. During Punjab's innings, between the 17th and 20th overs, Shreyas Iyer faced only 4 balls and scored 7 runs.

At the end of Punjab Kings' innings, captain Shreyas Iyer remained unbeaten on 97 runs. He missed the century. But in the last overs, the century was not anywhere in his mind. Shashank Singh kept most of the strike in the last three overs and rained fours and sixes. He told what message he got from captain Shreyas Iyer.

Shashank Singh said that Shreyas Iyer said - Don't think about my century. Hit a shot on every ball. Shashank did the same. He came to bat at number seven in the 16th over during Punjab's innings. He scored an unbeaten 44 off just 16 balls with the help of 6 fours and two sixes and shared an 81-run partnership for the sixth wicket with the captain.

What Shashank Singh said

On the back of the innings of Shreyas Iyer and Shashank Singh, Punjab Kings scored 243 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in the stipulated 20 overs. Talking to the broadcaster during the innings break, Shashank said, 'Let me tell you honestly. From the first ball, Iyer said not to worry about my century. Just watch the ball and react to it.'

Shreyas did not get the strike in the last over, but Shashank hit five boundaries and scored 23 runs in Siraj's over. This proved to be decisive as Punjab defeated Gujarat by 11 runs. If Shashank Singh had given the strike to the captain he would have also completed his century, but then what would have been the total score of the team? It is difficult to guess.

Shreyas was very selfless.

Shashank said that he was not looking at the scorecard. When he thought of giving the strike to Captain Shreyas, Iyer came and told him to leave the strike and just score as many boundaries as possible. Chhattisgarh player Shashank Singh revealed this in the press conference.

He said, 'I did not look at the scoreboard. When I played a shot on the first ball, I saw that Iyer was on 97 runs. I did not have to say anything. He came and said - Shashank, don't think about my 100. I was just going to ask him to take a single and give you the strike because a century is not easily scored in IPL.' Shashank Singh said that Shreyas Iyer's selflessness encouraged him a lot.